our purpose
Krieger Gaming is a Veteran & First Responder 501(c)(3) charity and online gaming community! One of the biggest factors in suicide is a feeling of isolation. We fight that by connecting people through the power of gaming! Connections save lives!
Why Gaming? Playing video games has numerous benefits for mental health. Video games can help relieve stress, help with the recovery from psychological trauma like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and most importantly help build and maintain social interactions [WebMd, October 25th, 2021]. Whether we’re relaxing in the ship’s lounge after a long watch, winding down from a patrol on a forward operating base, or even just sitting on the couch at home after a long day; many Veterans & First Responders turn to video games for that escape.
Additionally, Krieger (German for Warrior) has been a Veteran & First Responder Gaming Community since 2009. Over the years, we realized how important it is to be a part of a strong supportive community. We incorporated in November 2022 with the mission of using Gaming to do some real good. We accomplish our mission through three primary objectives:
- 1 - Community
- 2 - Support
- 3 - Outreach
1 - Community
We've found that one of the best ways to support each other is simply having a good time together! Our community is a melting pot of US, UK, and Canadian Veterans & First Responders from all different backgrounds, but we all have one thing in common: We served.
Our primary group is found on Discord, which is a popular talk, text, and video app. However, we also have a growing group on Facebook. In these groups you'll find plenty of military banter, smoking & joking, sharing memes, and of course playing video games!
We have hundreds of members on every major gaming system, and on a huge variety of different games! Most of our guys play games like Call of Duty Modern Warfare II, Destiny 2, World of Warships, Halo, and lots of others! Additionally, we host our own dedicated servers on Valheim and ARK Survival, and looking at more in the future. Last and most importantly, everything we offer is 100% free. Every dollar we make goes directly to our mission.
2 - Support
We believe that providing helpful resources is our duty. There are hundreds of great resources all over the country that support veterans & first responders, but not all of them are easy to find. We've worked dilligently to create a list of basics that can help a large variety of people. We are also working with other charities to grow this list, and get every veteran & first responder the support they need! Under the Resources tab on our naviagtion, you'll find a list of Discounts we've put together, Health & Wellness Resources, and some helpful guidance & resources for Veterans! Please use and share anything you find!
Additionally, we stand firmly against the stigmas associated with mental health by maintaining our community as a safe place to discuss emotional pain and healing. We understand that healing is a different journey for everyone. Whether you choose traditional medicine, spiritual healing, outdoor therapies, or alternative medicines; this community is judgement free.
Lastly, Do you need to talk to someone? Buddy Check is our in-house peer-support group staff by dedicated volunteers trained in Suicide Prevention. Buddy Check is available 24/7 to all members of our Discord server! Whether you just need to let off some steam, or discuss something more personal, we've got your back!
3 - Outreach
We are heading up a new outreach program to build Gaming Lounges for Veteran organizations like the American Legion and VFW! These lounges will be fun places for veterans to unwind and connect with each other. Our lounges will have multiple gaming consoles, board games, food, drink, and be the epicenter of many future events and tournaments.
Our vision is to build these lounges across the country, and eventually have joint gaming nights where multiple posts with compete against one another for bragging rights and small prizes. We want to unite the veteran community through gaming, and are proud to be working with so many other charities to do so! Stay tuned to our social media and blog for updates on this program!
