pdxlan.jpg

Gamers participating in the PDXLAN event donated 37,500 pounds of food.

(Courtesy of PDXLAN)

On Thanksgiving, Union Gospel Mission closed down a stretch of Northwest Third Avenue, set up a tent, heaters, tables and chairs and served 1,248 turkey dinners to people in need.

This year, a good share of the turkeys was provided by a group of fervent gamers who gather in Portland every year to play video games, win prizes and share food.

Four hundred attendees of the PDXLAN event in mid-November donated 37,500 pounds of food: flour, rice, sugar, canned fruit and vegetables, turkey and coffee, among others. People collected the food individually, in "micro-food drives," said Matt Conwell, the event's organizer, and brought it to the party.

In exchange for every 10 pounds of food, people received a ticket to use in a draw for prizes. Some items, such as turkey and coffee, had higher point values. Turkey counted for double the regular value.

The prizes – valued at $150,000 – were a big draw. For example, whoever donated 50 pounds of food got a free copy of Battlefield 4, a newly released, highly coveted video game, Conwell said.

He started organizing food drives at gaming events about seven years ago, he said.

“It’s like the Spiderman quote: ‘With great power comes great responsibility,’” he said. “Because I’m a leader of such a large community, to do nothing with that influence didn’t seem right. Because I can raise 150 pounds of food on my own. But if 400 people raise 150 pounds each, we end up with bigger numbers.”

Stacy Kean, a spokeswoman for Union Gospel Mission, said PDXLAN was one of the organization’s major donors this year.

“Every year, the food has increased tremendously,” she said. “It’s been awesome,” especially as food received from the gamers lasts the organization well beyond Thanksgiving.

-- Simina Mistreanu