Help Homeless Youth Get a Group Going!


PaizoCon General Discussion


Hello, thanks for taking the time to take a look at this post. This will be my first year attending Paizocon and just had an idea how I could possibly turn this into an opportunity on how to enrich the lives of the youth I work with.

I work for a non-profit that houses homeless and at risk youth in Washington state. I've got a number of youth interested in getting a weekly group going. I have some books but I'd like to get together some books and stuff to leave on site for the kids to look at and have some ownership over. There's just a couple of financial barriers to this. Firstly, the company I work for barely manages to make ends meet and would not be able to fund this group as they have to see to more basic needs like clothing and food. Secondly, I make a living wage but would not be able to foot the bill in it's entirety to get this ship off the ground. Lastly, the youth themselves come from limited resources and it's not realistic for them to be able to purchase books and whatnot for themselves.

Here's where you can help! I'm looking for any and all donations from the list below. From buying a set of dice to donating a couple of books taking up space on your shelf, I know the kids would really appreciate the ability to explore our hobby. Anyway, here's the list, if anyone is interested in helping out shoot me a reply and we can work something out.

need:
3x core rulebook
Bestiary
Game Mastery Guide
5 dice sets(d20, d12, d10, percentile d10, d8, d6, d4)
Chessex Battlemat

Want:
Miniatures
Extra dice(d6s, d8s, d4s)
Any and all other Pathfinder rule books and adventure paths
DM screen

Thanks!


I'd certainly contribute toward this. I wonder if it might be easiest to do some sort of collection of funds, rather than asking people to donate individual items, since some of them are pretty spendy. A Kickstarter perhaps? Or Gofundme?

In any case, I'll contribute - it's a great idea.


I'm not opposed to collecting funds but I felt people would feel more comfortable donating books and physical items. People can buy themselves a shiny new copy of say, their Core Rule Book and then donate their more worn copy to us.

Anything anyone can do to help would be greatly appreciated. The youth are really excited.

Shadow Lodge

I don't really have any spares, but I'd be happy to send funds.


Hey guys, a couple of responses to requests.

I've created a gofundme as people have requested a way to donate money. It can be found here
http://www.gofundme.com/uqy5k4

You can send items to the following address
[address redacted]

We'll accept any and all gaming books and items, not just limited to Pathfinder. It's just the system I'm the most familiar with but I'm hoping this sparks a life long passion for the Youth.

Grand Lodge

Hi Bahrahb, please be sure to let us know where we can find you to drop off things at the con. I have a few things I can donate.

edit: I just saw that you left an address. If you would rather have things sent, I can do that, though would prefer being able to just hand things over, with no postage, if that is possible.


Here's an Amazon wishlist I was asked to create. There's lots of stuff on here but we're open to anything.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/ref=cm_reg_rd-upd?ie=UTF8&id=3C3PJT6 PXS1QI&type=wishlist


Bahbrahb - that URL isn't working to take me to a particular campaign, it's asking me to create my own fundraiser.

Can you post the title of your gofundme campaign, or try another URL?


fixed, sorry about that.


verdigris wrote:

Hi Bahrahb, please be sure to let us know where we can find you to drop off things at the con. I have a few things I can donate.

edit: I just saw that you left an address. If you would rather have things sent, I can do that, though would prefer being able to just hand things over, with no postage, if that is possible.

Hey, I am more than happy to meet up with people at the con. I'm attending all 4 days and have a pretty packed schedule but am more than willing to duck out of panels to meet up with people. Let me know what works best for you and where. It's my first year so I'm not really familiar with layout or landmarks.


I hate to say it, Bahbrahb, but I still can't get that link to work properly. It takes me to your campaign, but when I enter my donation amount and personal info and hit 'Continue', it doesn't continue.

Not sure if you can fix that, or if I should just donate at PaizoCon.


I'm not sure what's going on there. I just ran a donation through and it seemed to work. If you can't get it to work just let me know when and where works best to meet you next weekend. Sorry for all the trouble.


Okay, got it to work - there was an account confirmation email stuck in my spam filter that I had to dig out and click on. Made a donation!

And don't worry about the trouble, I not only wanted to make a donation, but was the one who suggested you try the gofundme route! Speaking of which, here's a link to the gofundme campaign to make it easier for others.

Sovereign Court PaizoCon Founder, Wayfinder Editor-in-Chief

If you need a central depository for donated items, Wayfinder will be holding a table during the Con. If Paizo is OK with us accepting items (it's in the store I think) for this cause, perhaps we can help?

Let me look into this....

<Edit> Or Paizo will help out. ;-) One thing I'd add that will help would be to give a little bit of credentials...the name of your organization, etc. For instance, you've got one name on the mailing address there, and another on the gofundme page. People are generous, but also wary of a scam. Giving more information on your non-profit group allows folks to find out more, and feel better and more secure in their support.

Paizo Employee Data Entry Clerk

I replied to your post on Reddit & will be working in our store at PaizoCon, I'll ask at work tomorrow about having a central depository either through us or someone else. See you all there!


2 people marked this as a favorite.

Your concerns are totally understandable. The company I work for is named Cocoon House based in Snohomish County. Here's their website www.cocoonhouse.org.

The name difference is due to my not wanting to(hopefully) overload our front office with your generous by-mail donations. The address listed above is a friend who has kindly allowed me to have stuff mailed to her.

Dark Archive

HI Bahbrahb,

So to recap: It looks like we can drop off items at the PaizoCon store for Cocoon House and/or donate directly via GoFundMe. Plus an amazon wishlist. (But the link isn't working?)Huzzah! I'd most likely prefer to donate an item directly at the con to the store (both to avoid shipping costs and save luggage space).

Scott Keim: Will there be a "running list" kept of what is already donated on site? I'd just hate to, say, try to donate a Chessex Map and there's already three there but only one set of dice. (And speaking of maps, you should add appropriate map pens to the basic needs wishlist!)

And Bahbrahb: I'd love to hear more about Cocoon House if you have a few moments at any point during the con. I work with youth here in Texas and previously worked for an emergency shelter here as well. I always like to hear about other programs, even ones in other states, that do similar work.


I'm apparently really bad at the internet. I'm going to update the links across the board now that I've taken the time to figure out how to do it right.

We have plenty of overhead style pens already on site I was focusing more on long lasting items. If anyone would like to donate wet erase markers We will gladly accept them.

I will happily talk with you about our program at the con or here on the boards.

Thanks for all the help and patience everyone.

Lantern Lodge Customer Service Manager

1 person marked this as a favorite.

(I've redacted the address listed in one of the above post.. The Paizo/Pathfinder community is awesome, but these are publicly accessible forums and we do not recommend posting personal information such as addresses).

While we love how our community is already stepping up with interest in donating to help out homeless youth, we have some logistical and operational concerns and we feel its a little too close to the show to start making plans for this year. Reading this thread has definitely got our minds going about what we can do for 2016 and beyond, but we feel its just too short notice to set this up properly for PaizoCon 2015.

Bahbrahb, I'll be sending you an email later today with some more details, including setting up Cocoon House with some gaming supplies to get the kids' weekly game started. Thank you for your awesome work helping youth through this non-profit. I hope you have a wonderful convention!

See you there!


Thanks for all the help and consideration!

The address I had listed was my friend's work address. It's a publicly listed YMCA branch that has approved her to receive packages there. I understand your concern and if you'd rather not have the liability of having that info posted on your boards.

If anyone would like to mail items to me directly send me a private message and I can shoot you details.

Sorry for the last minute posting, just no telling when inspiration will strike.


Hey everyone.

I just wanted to post a quick update. The GoFundMe is just over halfway funded thanks to generosity from lots of people. I've got lots off people donating various books, dice, minis, and all kinds of other stuff. Big thanks to Paizo for letting me post this here and for being helpful and accommodating.

I'm going to be at Paizocon all 4 days including the banquet to collect in person donations. If you have items to donate let me know when you're available and we can figure out where to meet up.

When I update the kids you can see in their eyes how much it means to them. People donate the things they need pretty frequently. School supplies, clothes, food, hygiene goods. These things are great and the kids do appreciate them but I think knowing that strangers across the country are willing to help out with their hobby I think it hits home just a bit more for them.

We can't thank everyone enough. Your willingness to help is really fantastic.


Hey guys! Great work, we hit the GoFundMe goal!

We'll still be collecting donations but between this and the items being donated we're going to be giving the kids a really, really sweet set of gaming supplies.

I will make myself available after 6PM on Friday and Saturday, after 5 on Sunday and after 1 on Monday. If anyone has suggestions for a place for me to meet with people I'm open as I'm not sure how things are going to be laid out.

My plan right now, pending authorization by my company and cooperation from a local gaming store, is to take the kids on a 'little' shopping spree.

The kids did a dry run led by one of the other staff last night, learning the basics of the game, and had a lot of fun.

You guys are the best, thanks again from me and the kids.


Great news! Very glad this has worked out so well, I love the image of the kids going on a shopping spree, purely to get something fun, rather than just the necessities. Kids need toothpaste and toys, right?


Big day for this project. First set of books are in! Thanks for the support.

Silver Crusade

Hurray! That is super good news.


Hey everyone, at the Times I listed above I'll be standing in the area where the registration table is to accept your donations. If those times don't work I can meet you whenever. Let me know. Thanks!


I'll also be at the banquet and can take your donations there. Thanks guys!


Paizocon has been a ton of fun! Sad to see it come to a close tomorrow. I will be set up near the registration and syrinscape desk areas after 1pm for a last chance to drop of donations. I'll be holding a small sign saying 'HOMELESS YOUTH GAMING GROUP DONATIONS'. Come by and drop off your donations or just come say hi!

I can't say thanks enough to everyone for all their support. I hope everyone has had a good a con as I have!


The gofundme has a picture of the first load of books and supplies. Check it out to see all our good work manifested!

http://www.gofundme.com/uqy5k4


Wow, that's awesome!


Just wanted to throw a quick update on here. After deliberation the kids and I are running Reign of Winter with me as the DM. We're all pretty excited to get things going. I popped in tonight to finalize characters and explain a few things about working as a group and above every thing having fun. Dice hit the table on Sunday, assuming everyone has their rooms clean.

We've only spent a small portion of what was donated cash-wise so far. Mainly because everyone has been so driven to get right to playing. We have bought an Inner Sea World Guide, for that sweet, sweet flavor, some minis, and some gaming paper, to tide us over until our battlemat arrives.

As a show of thanks I'll be posting a campaign log describing our party's adventures. It's really the least I can do to repay everyone's generosity. I'll be posting it over in the Reign of Winter page just so it's topic specific but I'll link it from here.

Scarab Sages

I have some modules and other books I can send. But I will need a postal address.

How are the kids taking to Pathfinder?

Sovereign Court

Any update on this?

Publisher, Frog God Games

Dude. Email me. Stop by my booth at the show. Ask for Bill, Jillian or Tracy.

Necromancergames@yahoo.com.


Hey! sorry for the long lack of updates. Over the last year we've played pretty consistently through resident turnover and the trickiness of getting game time in between activities in their busy schedules. We have introduced a bunch of kids to tabletop gaming and helped build a sense of community within our kids.

@Bill Webb: I'll be attending again and I'll make sure to swing by. I'm also playing in your late night games for the second year in a row. My buddy is the guy with the Red Dragon friend.


Adventure Path Charter Subscriber; Pathfinder Rulebook, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

If you bump in TemplateFu at the con, take me to the store and we'll see what we can do for an item or two on the list. Hopefully you will know what has been fulfilled and what is still needed when we meet.

Community / Forums / Paizo / PaizoCon / General Discussion / Help Homeless Youth Get a Group Going! All Messageboards

Want to post a reply? Sign in.
Recent threads in General Discussion