Veterans from Department of Veterans Affairs Adapt to work and life challenges over the years. But employees on the department’s suicide crisis line and other mobile phone workers are recently fired in the federal government’s workforce.
More than 2% of VA Has been fired in recent weeks. Stephen MachugaFounder and CEO Stackinga military-focused charity centers on a shared love for video games, and is not sure how this will get rid of it.
But Machenga hopes that society will not forget the contributions of veterans to the country and the losses sacrificed over the years.
Stacking helps service members cope with the effects of combat injury, depression and post-traumatic stress through the benefits of the game. The efforts of charity include Stacking Overwatch Programprovides important 24/7 mental health counseling and support for active-duty military personnel, veterans and civilians when dealing with personal struggles.
Stack UP’s 10th anniversary is due to arrive in November this year, and Machuga is trying to be in front of as many people as possible and “remind them that we’re doing well there and trying to help veterans.” He attended the recent Dice Summit to help support stacking and veterans’ support.
“It’s frustrating. Like most of the gaming industry, we’re signing,” he said. “We expanded in a common period. We had money. We had arrived at a place where we spent responsibly. We spent on the means outside, but it wasn’t very interesting.”
He noted that support has been slipping.
“Every year we’re getting further and further away from 9/11, people aren’t supporting the troops as they used to,” Makuga said. “We just want to get as many meetings as possible and talk to people to let them know we’re still doing a great job there.”
In the past, Stack Up sent Xbox and PlayStation Game Consoles overseas, deploying U.S. soldiers in combat zones. Now that war and overseas deployments have cooled down, the work has shifted to support the fighters who are returning home and still struggling. Today, Stack Up will allow veterans to attend locations such as “geek culture” events or Disneyland.
This is a grassroots effort, not the support of many large companies. It brings veterans themselves together through a shared love for video games.
“Games became an important part of the conversation because many veterans in 9/11 positions are gamers. You know, now male and female veterans aged 21 to 35 are gamers now. It’s no longer that weird thing. Everyone does this now. So, games and online games, online gaming communities are a lot of those guys and girls stay connected with the people they serve.”
Those who are still deploying also use the game to stay in touch with their friends and family. This is one of the keys to prevent suicide – make sure no one is isolated.
“We need to make sure people feel like they are part of something. When you’re in the military, you’re part of something bigger than before. It’s the mentality of the high school football team. A lot of these veterans come out of the military, they’re doing tough jobs somewhere. They leave friends behind the military. Sometimes they feel like their best days are behind them.”
Machuga wants veterans to interact and be happy and to be part of the community who feel they are part of something in the name of suicide prevention. He believes that positive kindness and mental health are about playing games and building connections through online games.
Sadly, support for charities seems to have declined as the economy becomes unpredictable. Donations are falling and people often don’t have extra money to charity. During the pandemic, dedication is stronger. But now, for health reasons, people are often seen doing multiple jobs and launching the GoFundMe campaign. In 2024, donations piled up were $830,000, a 20% drop.
“The economy has fallen, so donations have fallen, and we are struggling with it,” Makuga said.
Earlier last year, Stack has supported more than 60,000 veterans in all its programs over the past 10 years. Last year, 1,500 veterans supported the request, and the charity could only support about 250.
“It’s a good run. It’s good news, he said, and knowing we’ve kept people alive” is a comfort. “Having someone enters our discord community and live a bad day, they need someone to talk to someone, or actively save a person’s life and provide them with the resources they need throughout the night, and that’s where the real rubber meets there. That’s a great feeling.”
In the formal program, Stack UP still provides consoles for those deploying overseas or those recovering when they return home. The group escapes or deserves veterans on a variety of games and geek culture events, theme parks or studio tours like Riot Games and Blizzard. There are dozens of “stacks” with veterans going out to volunteer in the community. There is also an Overwatch program, a peer suicide team that is in harmony with dissonance. The organization has headquarters in a Los Angeles mansion that has been transformed into a homeless veterans community center.
The main opportunity for fundraising is on Memorial Day in May, Military Appreciation Month, and then November 11, Veterans Day. From time to time, a military gaming company will help drive donations. But the group has no formal support, such as Call of Duty, which can help veterans get good jobs and often advance in the Call of Duty game. Ubisoft, Kingsisle Entertainment and others have helped in the past. ARMA’s maker Bohemia Interactive is actively working with Stack Up this year.
Veterans are often not very good when it comes to more urgent or deserved charities, such as toddler charities.
Machuga knows that support for diversity, equity and inclusion programs has weakened in the new administration. But he noted that veteran support is not always an effort that was initially classified as DEI. Veterans are minority groups, usually less than 1% of the U.S. population. But seeing veterans as worthy of support requires another thinking. That’s part of the reason why it’s hard to raise funds for organizations like Up.
“I’ve been in the gaming industry for 15 years and trying to scream, kick and yell veterans and support troops, it’s deaf,” Machuga said. “It’s a symbolic gesture, like the yellow ribbon sticker on your car.”
He appreciates your support, but hopefully this is more because he sees people glow when they receive PlayStation or Xbox from veterans groups.
“In the past, we supported the troops and then in the years you see, those cliffs that no longer exist,” he said.
But Machuga is continuing and he is seeking help.
“Anyway, we have to thank it when people support the troops. But W still believes. My father serves. I serve. My whole family serves. Our veterans are replaced by a man’s 35-year-old son who grew up on an iPad with my world on it,” he said. “And we know that games can help people with mental health. People tell us they have a great time. They want to know, “Where has the time gone?” “Instead of staring at the ceiling all night.”
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