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Desert Bus 2025 Total Raised
$1,059,553.89
Desert Bus 2026 Begins Oct 23, 4 PM PT
141:17:08:33
Welcome to
Desert Bus 2026
Art Challenge: Bear & Kate Going on Adventures!
November 20, 2025 at 06:34 AM PST
Posted by Soraya
Bear sits in the driver's chair wearing a flamboyant shirt. Carrie picks up Crochet Kate from the shelf behind him and nestles her into Bear's arm.

Kate and Bear are Best Friends
They go on Adventures!
Bear and Kate are Best Friends
They are Friends Forever!
Cursing down the highway
Sipping on French Lattés,
They are Friends Forever -
Have we mentioned that yet?
One likes honey sandwiches -
Not the one that you'd think!
[MUSICAL INTERLUDE!]
Song over.

All week, we have been enjoying the company of our good friends Bear and Kate. They're best friends! They go on adventures! We know that much, but what do their adventures look like? And just what do they put on those honey sandwiches? Perhaps you can help us fill in those blanks by making a comic strip and sending it to us for a chance to win a grab bag of Desert Bus merch.

Send your entries to contest@desertbus.org with the subject line "Bear and Kate Adventure" before 10:30am PT for a chance to win!

Files must be in PNG, JPG, or GIF format. No AI Art! Please share your name (with pronunciation guide) and pronouns as well!

Spooky Scary Zeta Shift Sends Shivers Down Your Spine
November 20, 2025 at 06:02 AM PST
Posted by Matthews

Zeta has gone dark for the evening, and we went fully dark all shift!

We had to get some of our friends in the gothy vibes, to kick off our shift!

We needed some quality dark, spooky, and moody karaoke. So here's this!

We contacted the spirits... Through a board game from Value Village.

And as everyone knows, goths need stretch breaks.

It's time for us to slowly shamble towards bead, but keep the stream on, and have fun with Dawn Guard! I'm sure it won't be tonal whiplash!

Sponsor Thank You: Legacy Books Press
November 20, 2025 at 02:29 AM PST
Posted by Matthews

Legacy Books Press explores the corners of history that are lesser known or misunderstood, publishing everything from ancient history to the modern history of, let's say, video games! They've been a sponsor of Desert Bus for Hope since 2016 and we love having them. This year, they have donated a wonderful book prize lot to fill your shelves and your brain! Thank you Legacy Books Press for your support!

Nighty night, Watch!
November 19, 2025 at 11:57 PM PST
Posted by Juliana Cooper

Thank you for hanging out with us for another night! Let's look back on what we've done.

We disparaged meat!

We Beyed our last Blades!

We had a sumptuous sushi feast!

Then we immediately ate ice cream on stomachs full of fish!

Ian made a butt!

And, best of all, WE MADE IT TO $700,000!!!

Matt and Ben do squats while the rest of Night Watch dances around them.

This was truly one to write home about. Thank you for joining us! We'll see you tomorrow!

$700,000!!!!!!!
November 19, 2025 at 11:23 PM PST
Posted by Juliana Cooper

The last time I made one of these posts, the number was much smaller. Seven HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS?! Y'all are fundraising rock stars.

Gif of pixelated green fire rising from a green bar with white text reading "DONATIONS".
Gif of Andrew dancing and striking triumphant poses under rainbow lights while holding a large championship belt.

Thank you all from the bottoms of our happy dancing feet! You're contributing to so much good in the world.

Prize preview: Mini Museum Fossils & Artifacts
November 19, 2025 at 08:59 PM PST
Posted by Juliana Cooper

We've given away a lot of big prizes. How about a lot of small prizes?

Photo of an array of fossils, ammonites, small items in collectors' frames, and cards.

This bounty of delights palaeontological and archaeological comes to us from a big name in small things: the Mini Museum!

Black and white logo for Mini Museum: a lower-case m inside a black box.

The fine folks at the Mini Museum have been spreading their love of science and history for over a decade. As cliché as it sounds, if you're ever looking to buy a gift for the person who has everything, Mini Museum really has you covered. Trust us. (They have fragments of Princess Diana's wedding cake, for Bus's sake!)

We're super thankful to the Mini Museum for donating this prize pack, and we're super jelly of whoever among our viewership is lucky enough to win it. Thank you, Mini Museum!

Night Watch Beyblade: The Final Tugs
November 19, 2025 at 07:20 PM PST
Posted by Juliana Cooper
Split screen gif. Left: Green and blue beyblades spinning in an arena; one explodes. Right: Logan and Adzy play with Andrew as ref.

That's right, folks: we've come to the thrilling climax of the Night Watch Beyblade Rip-Off International.

Image of a tournament bracket with Night Watch Beyblade Rip-Off International logo.

Tonight's challengers:

  • Brett (Wizard Todd)
  • Andrew (Stag Antler)
  • Jordanynne (Sting Unicorn | Sterling Wolf // "Losing Dogs")

Let 'er rip!

Sponsor love: Joseph Overbey and Amy Gregory!
November 19, 2025 at 06:17 PM PST
Posted by Juliana Cooper

A substantial portion of the funds we raise comes from the delicious and nutritious prizes we give away and auction off, including tonight's extremely spicy Final Fantasy Secret Lairs collection!

Three black boxes with white labels reading "Secret Lair x Final Fantasy".

We'd like to extend our appreciation to Joseph Overbey and Amy Gregory, who generously donated this collection to us so that we could give it away for money to help kids. Thank you!

Silent Auction: Bella Goth Portrait
November 19, 2025 at 06:00 PM PST
Posted by Juliana Cooper

Here at Desert Bus for Hope, we really like to put the fine in fine art. That's why we're honoured to have this gorgeous portrait in pastels by artist Nickie V as our next silent auction lot.

Portrait of a dark-haired woman in a red dress lounging on a pink striped sofa. A green polyhedron floats above her head.

If you wish to admire the graceful elegance of Sim idol Bella Goth without even having to turn on your computer, come on over and bid on her! This auction will be open between 6 pm and 12 am PST.

Like last year, we'll be using the Vickrey Auction system to run all of our silent auctions; check out our information post from last year to learn how that works.

Alpha Flight Coming in for a Landing
November 19, 2025 at 06:00 PM PST
Posted by Dan Wu

Well we made it to the end of the shift. Here is what we did.

We exercised.

We had our coffee

Made enemies

Made friends

And relaxed with Beer O'clock

Until tomorrow. Hit it.