Star Worlds Arcade to co-host charity drive

By Brady Meier

Gamers played for charity on Monday night.

Star Worlds Arcade, 1234 E. Lincoln Highway, in collaboration with Bryan’s Pro Shop & Hobby, 1211 S. Fourth Street, Suite 1, and Mattress Warehouse, 1224 E. Lincoln Highway, Suite 21A, hosted a charity drive for Feed ’em Soup, 122 S. First St.

Donors could give $10 or more for a wristband that granted them unlimited play from 5 to 8 p.m. This also made them eligible to win a variety of door prizes donated by Bryan’s Pro Shop & Hobby and Mattress Warehouse for having the high score.

“Gaming is normally competitive,” said Patrick O’Malley, owner of Star Worlds Arcade. “It’s nice to see gamers putting that nature behind them for a good cause.”

Derek Gibbs, executive director of Feed ’em Soup, shared the same enthusiasm for the event.

“I am part of the DeKalb community,” Gibbs said. “I want to give back, and keep finding new ways to improve lives.”

The head chef of Feed ’em Soup, Alex Smith, was clocking in time on the machines.

“I’m a gamer, too,” Smith said. “When I heard that we were doing this charity event with Star Worlds I was really excited about it.”

Kohl’s, 2070 Sycamore Road, sent five representatives to Star Worlds with a $500 donation.

“It’s really great to see local businesses step up,” O’Malley said. “Kohl’s really took it to a level I never would have been able to do by myself.”

More than $800 was raised for Feed ’em Soup by the end of the event.