Charity Activities
Silent Auction
Our Charity table is located in the Vendor Hall and has an amazing variety of Sci-Fi and Fantasy goodies. Some will be up for sale, and some will be presented at our Silent Auction. Proceeds from the auction benefit our official charities.
Shore Leave Blood Drive
Shore Leave teams up with the local chapter of the Red Cross to hold a blood drive on the Saturday of the convention. If you would like to give, sign up now by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter: STAT to schedule an appointment!
Can’t give blood at the convention? Well we have setup a Virtual Drive so you can give blood locally on a different date that may be easier for you to make. Just follow this link to the Virtual Drive and sign up though that form. And thanks for saving a life!
Charity Poker Tournament
The Robbie Greenberger Memorial Texas Hold-em Poker Tournament, held late Saturday night, benefits the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Visit the Charity Poker Tournament page for full details. Sometimes the guests, like Aaron Douglas, join in the fun!
Official Shore Leave Charities
Navy & Marine Corps Relief Society
The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) is a non-profit organization that provides financial assistance to active duty and retired Sailors, Marines, and their families. The NMCRS offers a variety of programs and services, including:
- Quick assist loans: Interest-free loans of up to $1,000 for active duty Sailors and Marines
- Emergency travel: Interest-free loans for emergency leave travel
- Education Assistance Program: Scholarships and no-interest loans for eligible families
- Financial assistance: Funds to help with a variety of financial needs, including rent, utilities, home repairs, car expenses, medical expenses, and military pay shortage
The NMCRS is funded by charitable donations and does not receive any funding from the Department of Defense.
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, located in Memphis, Tennessee, is one of the world’s premier pediatric cancer research centers. Its mission is to find cures for children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. No child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family’s ability to pay.
Supplies for our Teachers
We are proud to have teachers among our staff; however, they must pay for a lot of supplies themselves. To show our appreciation, we will be collecting school supplies to distribute among them. Below is a list of requested items, so please visit those dollar stores and back-to-school sales! These items can be dropped off at the Registration table.
Most requested:
- Pencils
- Colored pencils
- Pens
- Markers
- Highlighters
- Crayons
- Dry erase markers
- Glue sticks
- Sketchbooks
STEAM Education requested:
- Light Diodes (DiCUNO 5mm LED Light Emitting Diode)
- 3V Lithium Coin Cell Batteries CR2032
- Conductive fabric tape
- Double AA batteries
- Card games (ex. Uno/ Taco, Cat/ Spot It etc.)
- Easy puzzles (200 or less pieces)
- Board games like chess, checkers, mancala, Jenga
- Plus Plus blocks
- Magnetic tiles
- Marble run
- Marbles
- Legos
- Snap Circuits
- Gravity Maze
Also requested:
- Crayola dough (not Playdoh)
- Wax-coated paper plates
- Cups: Solo or similar , translucent, bathroom paper cups
- Cardstock (any color)
- Popsicle sticks
- Straws: bendy and not
- Pipe cleaners
- Foil: precut sheets
- Plastic spoons
- Clothespins
- Tape: masking and clear
- Wide-ruled filler notebook paper
- School scissors
- 2-pocket folders
- Marble-backed composition books
- Push pins
- 1″ or 1.5″ 3-ring loose leaf binders