Fun and games for a couple of good causes

Gaming Day in support of women’s shelter and food bank

By Jillian Sexton

Last fall, The Commons hosted a Gaming Day in support of Iris Kirby House and the campus Food Bank. On Friday, Nov. 13, The Commons will be holding another charity Gaming Day.

The Commons, which is a collaborative workspace between the Queen Elizabeth II Library and Computing and Communications, first envisioned the idea of a charity event in the summer of 2008. In September of the same year, they hosted the first Gaming Day.

Chad Healey, IT Consultant at The Commons and Gaming Day visionary, says that the event started as a way to get together with other gamers and eventually evolved into a fundraiser. “We wanted to have a bit of fun while giving back to our community at the same time,” said Healey.

Iris Kirby House is a shelter for abused women and their children. Established in 1981, Iris Kirby House offers a refuge for physically, emotionally, sexually, or economically abused women.

Although the shelter is located in St. John’s, it provides service to women from all across the Avalon Peninsula, the Southern Shore, and Placentia Bay.

Healey says that donating the proceeds from Gaming Day to Iris Kirby House is a great way for The Commons to connect with the community. “We want to raise awareness of the great work being done by this organization and provide them with financial support,” explained Healey.

This year’s Gaming Day will be different than the first. Last September, attendees competed in a tournament. This year, The Commons will be handing out door prizes and has removed the competition from the event.

“We don’t want to mess around with scoring this year,” said Healey. “Instead, we want to promote camaraderie between MUN students, faculty, and staff by encouraging a friendly atmosphere on campus, and to help make The Commons more accessible.”

There’s something for everyone at Gaming Day, as there will be a wide variety of games available: Wii Resort Sports, Wii Mario Kart, Worms 2: Armageddon, and a myriad of board games, just to name a few.

“It’s a relaxed environment to get to know new people and have some fun.”

Admission for Gaming Day is $10 plus a non-perishable food item. “We couldn’t forget MUN’s Food Bank – we want to support our campus community, too,” Healey added.

Tickets are available in advance from the Computing Support Desk at The Commons and also at the door.

For more information about Iris Kirby House, visit www.iriskirbyhouse.nf.net.

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