Computer gaming is a passion or hobby shared by a community of people spanning all ages, all races, and all professions. Our community recognizes that soldiers currently deployed are also part of the same community, yet they're access to gaming is limited . Gifts From Gamers(GFG) gives us an opportunity to entertain these men and women by donating new or used entertainment items. More than just simple gifts, GFG provides a means for this community to bring a piece of home to those currently deployed.

Hello, my name is Diane “Tiggs” Migliaccio and I am on a mission. No, I’m not in the US Army. My son is, along with many other young men and women like him.

That’s where Gifts from Gamers comes in. For the past 9 years, I’ve been working in the PC Entertainment industry supporting online communities for massively multiplayer online games. The idea to start GiftsFromGamers.org came about when asked by one of my son's Sergeants if I could get a hold of some games for one of their deployed units. After giving this some thought, I realized how many games I have sitting around in my home that we don't use, and I know many friends have piles of games they never play any longer—even some that were never opened!

After approaching some of my colleagues and contacts from the industry, support for this project grew and my goals became clear. I needed to create a space on the Internet where gamers could easily and effectively donate their old systems and software to the people on the front lines who so desperately need a piece of home to keep them grounded in time of war. We accept PC games, handheld games, DVDs, CDs, books and magazines as donations to our soldiers and troops who are deployed.

What do you have collecting dust in your shelves? I encourage you to take 15 minutes of your time to do some spring cleaning and make a difference in the lives of these brave young men and women. Don’t have anything lying around? Next time you are looking for a game to play or a movie to watch, why not purchase one to donate to a soldier that is deployed also?

Diane “Tiggs” Migliaccio
Gamer, Mother, Patriot.

Gamers come in all types: mothers, fathers, grandmothers, grandfathers, sisters, brothers, cousins, aunts, uncles and most importantly friends. Many of us don't even realize that we fall under the category of a gamer, since gamers come from all walks of life. Gamers can be simply defined as people who have desire or passion to play games. These games can take all forms: from card games, board games and puzzles, to role playing, and certainly computer games, console/arcade games and internet games.

In fact, gamers span all levels of passion and interests. Some may hold their puzzles dear, or their console system, while MMO and Internet gamers spend their time online. Being a gamer is not even about how much time is spent gaming, but the fact that you game.

In one way or another we are all gamers. We may have different tastes in games but we all have similar reasons for playing. We play to relax. We play to escape our daily toils. We play to be something we can never be in real life. We play to socialize. And we play to stimulate our minds. The games and entertainment items that are shipped to these young men and women will help relieve their minds of where they are and let them feel for a time a sense of normalcy and familiarity of the life they left behind. I encourage you to bring them some enjoyment and relaxation until they can be back home again with their families and loved ones. Help support our deployed soldiers by donating a new or used entertainment item.

For those playing online games, consider that it's highly likely that allies or even adversaries in fights in the virtual worlds are real life soldiers who must fight battles in the real world. Let your online comrades-in-arms know you support them in real life as well.