The Medway Community Game Club (MCGC) is a monthly game group focused on bringing Medway-area board gamers together. Its goal is to provide a fun and positive connection between our hobby and local communities. MCGC welcomes players of all ages, abilities and identities. It was founded by Mat Thomsen in August of 2021 in response to COVID restrictions loosening and the desire to reconnect with local board gamers in person. The club currently has more than 200 members and meets monthly to play games on the first Saturday of each month.

Organizers held an all-day event in June to support The Trevor Project. The event allowed club members to come together at its usual, monthly game day while supporting a great cause.

According to www.thetrevorproject.org, “The Trevor Project’s mission is to build a safer, more-inclusive world. LGBTQ young people are four times more likely to attempt suicide, and suicide remains the second leading cause of death among all young people in the U.S.”

 

After the event Thomsen said, “With this event, I really wanted to show support within our hobby community as well as our community at large. Board gamers tend to an inclusive group, and I wanted to take some time to celebrate that and hopefully, raise a ton of money for a great cause!”

The club’s community-focused mission was on full display at the event, with club members coming together with families and friends and even with their former boy scout leaders and teachers!

The designers of two different games each donated signed copies to the cause, which were auctioned off at the event and raised nearly $300 combined! One of them was the game Stonewall Uprising, which is a recent release that uses the events of the gay civil rights movement as the backdrop in this, tug-of-war historical card game.

Earlier this year, two club members donated over 100 games to the cause. By holding an online auction for these games, and thanks to a generous donation from our hosts, Tom and Judy Shea, owners of TJ Cafe and games, Thomsen was able to offer special edition club pins, stickers and t-shirts. All proceeds went directly to The Trevor Project. 

“What a day!! I can’t thank everyone enough for being a part of our Pride fundraising Gayme Day. We had 60 people come together to play games and connect with our community. I’m very proud of the money we raised for The Trevor Project. Thanks to all who donated.”