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October 1, 2022, 5:20 pm
Posted by: Andrew
Max, Cori, Ian, and Andrew wait in the hallway outside the main studio. Everyone is in a red Star Trek TNG command uniform except for Andrew, who is wearing an inflatable t-rex costume. Max is giving the thumbs up sign in the foreground.

Photo by Graham Stark

I know we’re all a bit distracted with Hallowe’en Season kicking off today, but we’ve got one other major ‘holiday’ on our minds: Desert Bus 2022 is barely 40 days away!! We can’t wait for it to start and also we have so much work left to do, so let’s get started.

With #DB2022 fast approaching in yet another unusual year, we once again want to provide an update for you on this year’s event structure. As with the last couple years, our first and foremost priority is the safety of all of our team members and ensuring that we’re following all applicable health regulations here in the province of BC. Things are definitely looking up compared to the last couple years, but we still want to ensure we’re remaining safe & accessible. We’ve also been able to learn a lot from how well LoadingReadyRun’s precautions and policies have been working as they’ve returned to live broadcasting from the Moonbase.

We’ll be adopting a similar hybrid model to last year, but with three shifts broadcasting in person this year & one shift remaining remote. Alpha Flight, Nightwatch, and Dawnguard will be broadcasting in person this year, with Zeta Shift broadcasting remotely in a similar format to previous years. We’re not returning to a full-scale event this year but we’re looking forward to welcoming more of our volunteers back to participate in person, while allowing folks to still participate remotely if they prefer.

As with last year, a few of our volunteers both in front of & behind the cameras will be moving around to different shifts. Expect to see some fun new combos of people working together! We know you’re excited to learn more, and we’ll have more to share about shift lineups during the lead-up to the event.

We’ve all gotten our vaccinations and our boosters, and we’ll be taking additional precautions both in the run-up to & during the event. We’re working hard to make sure we’re putting on the best event possible while ensuring the comfort and safety of all our volunteers. We’re continuing to follow the latest provincial health guidance available and will adjust our plans as needed.

As always, we are endlessly grateful for your patience and understanding. We think we’ve done some of our best work ever in the last couple years and we’re looking forward to doing it all over again. Don’t forget our start date & time will be a little bit different this year as we kick off our 2022 run at 2pm Pacific on Saturday November 12th!

And yes, Desert Bus is a bit different every year, but it’s also the same every year; No matter what it is, it’ll be something incredible that we’re all going to make, together.

May 8, 2022, 2:07 pm
Posted by: Andrew

Desert Bus for Hope 2022 Craft-Along Submissions are now Live!

Do you paint? Sew? Crochet? Use found objects to create adorable sculptures of creatures and characters from your favourite games? Any number of other things that one can consider crafty? Are you interested in being a part of this year’s Desert Bus? Well I have good news for you, because it’s that time again!

As of today, May 8th, submissions for the Desert Bus 2022 Craft-Along are now officially open. We’re inviting crafters of all backgrounds to consider crafting & donating a wonderful prize to help Desert Bus For Hope raise money for Child’s Play this year. Crafters will have until May 29th to get their proposals in, so that we can review what folks are interested in doing & get back to you soon with enough time to complete your crafts. We’re excited to see what our community comes up with, but because we get so many incredible applications, submissions will be limited to one item per crafter. We appreciate the enthusiasm, but we’d like everyone to have a chance.

We’re hoping to have all submissions reviewed & provide our wonderful crafters with a response by June 6th. Once that’s sorted, our accepted crafters can start crafting those masterpieces! The deadline for receipt of finished crafts this year will be September 30th. The earlier you can get your item in, the easier you make things for our prize team!

If you’re new to the Craft-Along, and have a great idea for a craft, the process is simple: just click here to get to the Craft-Along submissions page and fill out the form!  We’ll need your contact information, a description of your proposed craft, and a few other pieces of info.

The Desert Bus For Hope Craft-Along community is full of incredibly kind and gifted people who give so much of themselves, and for that we continue to be eternally grateful. It’s folks like you who make Desert Bus what it is, a positive gathering of people from across the world to help kids be kids.

The entire Desert Bus team thanks you, and we can’t wait to see all the incredible work you put together this year!

Flags

April 27, 2022, 11:21 pm
Posted by: Matthews
Posted by btetta.

Posted by btetta.

We now have DB2021 merch available for our fans in the EU and UK!!!

Desert Bus for Hope will be offering its 2021 Merch Collection for sale to customers exclusively in the UK and EU, starting on May 2nd 2022 at 15:00 UTC, at store.desertbus.org

 

And now, a word from our Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: Why is the Desert Bus for Hope 2021 Merch Collection being offered again?

A: During DBfH 2021, shipping to the UK and EU was disabled for all products on the LoadingReadyRun Store, which includes merch for Desert Bus for Hope. So UK and EU customers could not purchase anything from the store due to the changes in the VAT collection laws. We have, however, found a solution for our fans in the UK and EU.

Because of the VAT laws in UK and EU countries, retailers normally have to collect and remit VAT at point-of-purchase (usually along with customs fees, duties, and other fees involved in shipping). However, a retailer can instead choose to ship a product without collecting VAT (and duties, etc.) and the country’s customs agency will hold the package, assess the taxes/fees, and collect them directly from the customer before releasing the package. This will likely also include a holding fee from the post office for managing the duty. This process is called shipping “Delivery Duty Unpaid” and we will be shipping all packages to the UK and EU as DDU.

Q: I live in the UK or EU. How much will I be paying for shipping/taxes/duties/customs fees/etc.?

A: All packages are shipped to the UK and EU Delivery Duty Unpaid (DDU), so we do not have any estimates on what you will be paying. Unfortunately, we’re not able to calculate that for you.

Q: Why is the Desert Bus Merch collection open ONLY to UK and EU customers?

A: We held a percentage of merch items back from the initial sale, so that UK and EU fans would have a chance to purchase merch at a later date. Since they weren’t able to purchase anything during the run itself, it’s only fair to give them their own Exclusive Merch Window.

Q: If you have merch left over, what will happen to it?

A: We like to sell as much merch as possible, so we will make it available at a later date TBD to all customers worldwide (or at least the ones our fulfillment company can legally ship to).

Q: What merch does this include?

A: This includes the pin, poster, playmat, DBloon, and water bottle offered during the 2021 run, plus the USS Tucson playmat and poster. This also includes other miscellaneous Desert Bus merchandise from previous years that we still have in stock.

Q: Does this include the 2021 T-shirts?

A: Unfortunately, no. The T-shirts are produced and sold independently by Fangamer and are not offered through the LoadingReadyRun Store.

Q: Can I bundle this up with other LoadingReadyRun merchandise?

A: It’s all from the same store, so yes, you can. Bundle away!

Q: How long will this merch be on sale for?

A: That’s a very good question, and one I (Andrew) really should have asked Beej before posting this in the middle of the night. I can now confirm that sales will open for one week!

Thank you all for your patience while we got this figured out!! We’re so glad we can offer our UK and EU fans the merch they have been craving for so long!!

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November 19, 2021, 5:17 pm
Posted by: Tim

Photo of the Final Busdown, just after the bus crashed.

THANK YOU!

Thanks to the generosity of the entire Desert Bus for Hope community, we’ve raised $1,188,128.81, and bussed 167 hours for Child’s Play Charity!

To everyone that’s part of our community – our crafters, guests, sponsors, moderators, VST members, volunteers, and most importantly, viewers like YOU – thank you from the bottom of our hearts for joining us on this ride. We can’t say enough that this all wouldn’t be possible without your support.

For ongoing news during the year, check the blog here at desertbus.org, or follow us on FacebookTwitter, and Instagram. You can also relive the greatest moments from this year’s run at YouTube. And, if you’re so inclined, you can donate to Child’s Play Charity year-round at their website. Until next time…

A screenshot of driving the bus in the game Desert Bus.

November 19, 2021, 12:47 pm
Posted by: Tim
The Omega from Home crew reaches $1 million raised this year.

Posted by btetta.

We chatted, we animorphed, we minecrafted, we danced… we’ve started the final countdown of Desert Bus for Hope: Omega Shift!

Just in case you’re catching up on some of the numbers…

The Prize Mines are emptied out and all we have left to give away is the Mystery Box. We’ll give that away at the very end of the run. If you’ve donated $5 or more at any point during the run, you have a chance to win. Unlike our other giveaways, the amount donated doesn’t increase the number of entries, so everyone that’s donated has an equal chance. (And if you haven’t donated yet, and you’d like to do so, you can do so here at desertbus.org!)

With all that business out of the way… we’re just going to be hanging out, having a good time for the rest of Omega Shift. Please enjoy the show and The Final Busdown!

Here’s some of what you’ve missed during the first part of Omega Shift…


Did we mention that you all have raised over $1 million dollars this year? Here’s the moment in case you missed it:

We go on the final Minecraft server tour of the run:

The Homega crew shares some media recommendations:

We throw it over to Studiomega:

Graham reads some heartwarming messages from the challenges:

And, finally… more crosswords!


Remember, for the latest updates, stay tuned to desertbus.org. You can also catch up on the latest #DB2021 happenings around the web…

November 19, 2021, 10:57 am
Posted by: Tim

You all are absolutely amazing! We’ve raised over One Million Dollars in support of Child’s Play Charity this year! And, not only that, at the time of this blog post, you’ve also broken last year’s Desert Bus for Hope total! WOW! Exclamation points!!1!

Kermit flails in celebration. YAY!

Posted by randomtrivia.

Posted by randomtrivia.

Posted by azninsect.

Posted by azninsect.

Posted by btetta.

Posted by btetta.

Posted by btetta.

Posted by btetta.

Thank you thank you thank you thank you! You all are awesomely awesome! Stay tuned for more of Omega Shift as we bring Desert Bus for Hope 2021 to a close.

November 19, 2021, 10:34 am
Posted by: Az

There isn’t much left to say about this beautiful sword, except now is your chance to win it!

Donate $7.77 or multiples thereof by Noon PST to win!

And don’t forget that ANY donation of $5 or more gets you ONE (and only one) submission to win our myyyyystery box! But that’s for later 😏

November 19, 2021, 9:16 am
Posted by: Az
We are so happy we’ve had all of you here with us this last week! One last silent auction is up, so I thought I may as well plug it again before it’s gone in 30 minutes!!

Our volunteers work incredibly hard during Desert Bus and in the weeks and months leading up to the run. They take time off work, absolutely trash their sleep schedules, and make fools of themselves on the internet, all for the children. So at the end of each run we host a party for them, to show them they are appreciated, to let them relax, and to spend time with their friends who were on opposite shifts. Even though we still cannot be together in one place we are still organizing a remote afterparty for everyone to relax and unwind.

This is where you come in. We need a sponsor for this afterparty. (We don’t NEED one, but go with me on this). The winner of this auction will be bestowed the title of Official Sponsor of the Desert Bus for Hope 2021 Afterparty. This title carries no duties, responsibilities, or privileges. You do get a snazzy certificate though! It’ll have your name and everything! And rest assured that all of your money still goes to Child’s Play. We cover all the costs of the afterparty.

James will also make a custom playlist for Zeta Shift, which will be sent to the Afterparty Sponsor and played during the afterparty. This is Erika’s contribution to the Kindness War.

November 19, 2021, 8:02 am
Posted by: Az

Donate $5.55 or multiples thereof by 9am PST for a chance to win this huge lot of goodies!!

First, add to your stylish wardrobe with your choice of a LRR T-Shirt. Yep, you pick the design you want. And, for colder weather, we’ll add a comfy LRR Logo Hoodie. Next, if you’re going to paper fight, you’ll want a soft surface to make it easier to play cards, and what better option is there than a LRR Playmat of your choice. Finally, we round out the prize pack with the collector’s LRR Pinny Arcade Pin of your choice and, because it’s important to stay hydrated while travelling, gaming, or streaming, a Road Quest Water Bottle.

This prize lot contains the following items:

– 1x LoadingReadyRun T-Shirt, in the size and style of the winner’s choosing.
– 1x LoadingReadyRun Logo Hoodie, in the size of the winner’s choosing.
– 1x LoadingReadyRun Playmat, in the style of the winner’s choosing. (Excludes Desert Bus playmat.)
– 1x LoadingReadyRun Pinny Arcade Pin, in the style of the winner’s choosing. (Excludes Desert Bus pin.)
– 1x Road Quest Water Bottle

November 19, 2021, 6:17 am
Posted by: Az

Good morning from the dawn of the last day! And us Dawn Guardians have been joined by the…Zeta…Zetas….Zets? Whatever they are called, they have joined us on HOMEGA! Aka Home-Omega. So for the next couple of hours we’ll be doing us couple of nerds from home, and then we will switch to the TRUE OMEGA at 10am PST for the in person nonsense to TRULY BEGIN!

So until then, we’re here to entertain you, do some last minute money raising, and whatever else we feel like in these CHAOTIC times!! Thanks for sticking around with us!