So, you wanna help get video games to U.S. troops deployed to Afghanistan? You wanna win some very cool prizes in a raffle? You wanna go to a great event with gaming and all sorts of entertainment? Well, then….

You might be familiar with Front Towards Gamer’s Operation Supply Drop, founded by Captain Stephen “Shanghai Six” Machuga in 2010 after he served eight years in the Army; the organization raises funds to send games and gear to troops overseas, something the Captain realized was important after he, an avid gamer himself, experienced that lack of access to gaming in high-threat areas. The military allows gaming among the few permitted leisure activities for troops, but the troops have a hard time getting the games. Getting those games to the troops is Operation Supply Drop’s mission.

Okay, now to the event. Saturday, November 10th is the group’s national Veterans Day “8-Bit Salute to Veterans,” with events in the New York, Chicago, L.A., and Dallas areas. In the Chicago area, Konas Korner and Off Duty Gamers are holding their event at Game Pazzo in Downers Grove with music and prizes; there’ll be a big gathering in Dallas at The Den and Rumor Lounge featuring gaming, three DJs, and special guests; in L.A., there’l be a single-elimination Medal of Honor: Warfighter tournament at the Los Angeles Film School’s Game Lab with celebrities and prizes; and at Union Hall in Brooklyn, there’ll be gaming and music with MC Death Bear emceeing and Junk Science performing, followed by DJ Cutman’s chip-tune dance party. All the details, like time and special guests, can be found by clicking here.

More? Microsoft Stores at Bridgewater Commons in New Jersey, the Pentagon City Fashion Centre in Arlington, VA, and at Tysons Corner in McLean, VA are collecting current generation games and consoles for troops through Veterans Day.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE RAFFLE?

Wait, first, the six units receiving care packages from the donation drive are deployed in Paktya, Logar, Helmand, and Kandahar, plus on the U.S. John C. Stennis and to an undisclosed (medical privacy, y’see) injured soldier at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center’s rehabilitation center.

You can also make monetary donations through PayPal (use [email protected]) or send new games or consoles to Operation Supply Drop (OSD), 9301 Alvyn Lake Cir., Bristow, VA 20136.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE RAFFLE?

Oh, right, the raffle. It’s a $3 ticket, you can buy as many as you want, and you can buy them through fronttowardsgamer.com or operationsupplydrop.org, or through a PayPal donation to [email protected], and if you’re gunning for a specific prize, mention it in the notes section of your donation. The prize drawing will be held after midnight on Veteran’s Day, November 11th, 2012.

The prizes?

“8-Bit Salute” mega sponsor Capcom has contributed two 25th Anniversary Street Fighter chess sets valued at $300 each.

Project Triforce has a Mass Effect 3 replica M3 Predator pistol, valued at $400.

You a Call of Duty fan? (Yes, you are) There’s a Call of Duty swag package from last year’s Call of Duty XP event: six shirts, water bottle, a (real) canteen, a Captain Price 4GB thumb drive, a pewter grenade keychain, a bunch f patches and stickers, and Xbox 360 copies of Modern Warfare 3 Hardened Edition and Black Ops.

And they say they’re going to add more. So go here to buy tickets for the raffle and go to the events if you’re in one of the lucky cities. It’s a great cause whether you win or not, you know.