Magazines for Troops entering its ninth year

Magazines for Troops is entering its ninth year of providing U.S. service members all over the world with reading materials, a service that involves working six days a week to accomplish.

Based in Lakeside in space donated by Jerry Newell of Lakeside Mercantile, Magazines for Troops is a 501(c)(3) organization and the only one in the United States that is sending solely magazines.

Packages are still going to Afghanistan, Iraq and other foreign locales, including aircraft carriers and destroyers.

The majority of magazine donations come from Flathead Valley residents who regularly donate their new and slightly used magazines at drop-off locations such as Rosauers and the Lakeside Post Office

In addition, people from across the country also mail their magazines or sign up for magazine subscriptions and donate the subscriptions to Magazines for Troops. New magazines are delivered daily.

At least 75 boxes filled with 40-plus different titles are shipped each month.

Each box in 2015 cost $12.65 to ship and that rate is scheduled to increase Jan. 17.

Local schools have also created dozens of pieces of artwork and thank-you letters to ship along with the magazines.

People can enjoy the return notes of thanks from the troops and make donations on the website at magazinesfortroops.com.

Donations from the end of the year help the organization for several months into the new year.

Send checks, made out to Magazines for Troops, to P.O. Box 909, Lakeside, MT 59922.

A receipt for your tax deduction will be mailed to you.

New magazine subscriptions may also be sent to the same address, however, women’s magazines are not needed at this time due to local donations.

Anyone who would like to volunteer to help sort and prepare the magazines may contact Donna Chase, president and founder, at 261-9408.

If you have a young man or woman serving in the armed forces overseas, contact Chase and the first box of magazines will be on its way within one business day.