We sat down with the Reid family – Tara, Will, Robin, and Tammy – who have been hosting an annual fundraiser benefiting DBSA from their gaming store, House of Cards in Winston-Salem, NC, for nearly 10 years. What began as a Magic: The Gathering tournament has grown into a staple community event and safe space for mental health advocacy.
The event was originally created as a memorial for the previous owner of the store, who passed away due to mental health challenges. After their passing, the shop entered a period of uncertainty. But the local community rallied. Will, along with a couple of local judges who loved to facilitate Magic: The Gathering games, organized the first tournament.
In that first year, they raised $700. It wasn’t just the fundraising that was impressive; they saw the event take shape and represent something more in the community. Over time, the family noticed more community members started showing up, not just to play games, but to talk. People were looking for a safe place to share their mental health experiences.
“In our experience,” the family shared, “a lot of gamers use board games, card games, and the gaming community as a way to cope and connect.” They noted that mental health conditions are prevalent in gaming communities but rarely talked about openly. This realization became the turning point.
That’s when the Reids began to intentionally cultivate a space where people could be open, without judgment—where they didn’t feel like a burden, or like they were alone. They wanted House of Cards to embody the “Cheers” philosophy: where everyone knows your name, and you can walk in after a long day and just relax.
The store has since become much more than a retail space. They’ve hosted memorials, weddings, baby showers, and graduation parties. It has become a true third place—a welcoming space outside of work and family.
Tara chose to support DBSA because she felt the organization offered accessible, broad-spectrum mental health resources. At the time, she didn’t realize they were organically creating their own informal support hub. People began coming to the store, sometimes directly to Tara, affectionately called the “shop mom,” to talk about grief, anger, suicidal ideation, or to ask about local resources. The shop now has an open-door policy, and a community board that lists therapists and services in the area.
What stood out about DBSA was its focus across the entire mental health journey, not just for individuals living with mood disorders, but also their friends and families. And because DBSA has a national reach, the college students who moved away could still access support once they left town.
Over the years, the tournament has continued to grow. Last year alone, the family raised $6,000—and they’ve raised over $25,600 for DBSA since the event began. “It’s not only a fundraising event,” the family explained. “It’s a place where people can show up, have conversations, and know that it’s a safe space to exist.”
One of Tara’s favorite parts of the event is seeing people, many of whom may be struggling, come together, and connect. Sometimes, the only time they see certain people is at the tournament, but they come out of the woodwork for this, and that says a lot.
The event has evolved beyond cards. The Reids bring in food trucks, coffee vendors, yard games, raffles, and silent auctions. This year, a local mental health facility donated, and they are encouraging other organizations to match that generosity.
One story they shared truly captures the spirit of the community they’ve built. In Magic: The Gathering, there’s a deck called the “Angel Deck.” It was the favorite of the tournament’s original honoree, who had collected every angel card they could find. That first year, the coveted “Angel Deck” was raffled off and in a remarkable show of generosity, the winner brought it back the next year with even more angel cards added. It’s become a tradition: each year, the Angel Deck is raffled again, with the previous winner adding or swapping cards in the deck. Like a Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants moment, the original angel deck is still passed around.
The event is a full-family investment of time, energy, and personal funds. On tournament day, they’re at the store for 14–16 hours, and they begin planning the next year’s event as soon as the current one ends. They’ve grown from a two-person team (Tara and Will) to a staff of 11. “The store is growing, the event is growing, the community is growing and the number of people who feel seen, supported, and have found chosen family is growing too.”
When asked what advice they’d give to others who want to host a similar event or create a “third place” for their community, Robin shared this:
“First and foremost, make the decision that you’re going to have an inclusive space. Make sure everybody on your team is committed to that. For me, as a cis white male, it’s been a growth curve—not just learning about mental diversity, but including other viewpoints and ideas. It’s not just about mental health. It’s about an all-inclusive mentality all the way around. That’s the only way this really works. That’s the only way this business continues to grow. I had to learn the difference between true acceptance and tolerance.”
Their final encouragement? Just start. “If you have a team that believes in the vision—try it,” they said. “Don’t obsess over what didn’t go right. Celebrate the wins. Keep an eye on your capacity and your health. And at the end of the day, it’s about making sure people feel seen and heard.”
Sometimes that means ordering pizza and calling it a day. Sometimes it’s grilling out when no vendors are available. What matters most is showing up for the community.
How YOU Can Take Action After Reading This Story:
- Are your local to Winston-Salem, NC or do you know someone local? Visit House of Cards’ website to find more event details: https://www.wshouseofcards.com/
- For other ways to support the store contact Tammy at indigoevents13@gmail.com
- Donate to DBSA in honor of this event: https://www.dbsalliance.org/stories/hoc-fundraiser/
- Show up for your own community. Meet people where they are. Listen to their stories.
- Explore DBSA’s website to learn more about our peer-led support and resources.
