Local nonprofit ships magazines to active soldiers

For five years, Donna Chase of Lakeside has fed a never-ending magazine hunger among troops in remote areas ranging from Afghanistan to the decks of aircraft carriers and destroyers.

Chase and her husband, Doug, have received many testimonials of appreciation since they found their nonprofit organization, Magazines for Troops.

In one note of thanks, a military wife described how much her husband’s unit loved a shipment: “I was told it is like piranhas around the box when it comes. You guys are awesome!”

From the many notes she has read, Chase learned that they hit home runs by sending a few women’s interest but mostly men’s magazines on topics such as guns, motorcycles, sports, cars, 4-wheelers, outdoors, hunting and fitness.

She also discovered that the magazines filled a need greater than something to read during down time.

“It’s a piece of home. It reminds them that somebody is thinking of them — that they are not totally forgotten,” she said. “They also appreciate having that little escape.”

Lately, however, she has found magazine donations and cash contributions for shipping have declined. Chase traced the cause to a perception that the need has diminished.

“That’s a misconception that we hear from so many people. A lot of people are under the impression that they are all coming back,” she said. “Demand is not going down.”

Chase and her partner from Pablo, Esther Gunlock, serve more than 160 military units with recent magazines gathered from collection spots at grocery stores, banks and other collection spots in the valley.

The Chases originally started with just one unit after a soldier they adopted to send care packages to mentioned a huge need for magazines.

They set out collection boxes at a few spots in the valley and had a big response. This encouraged them to find more units in need by starting a website that became www.magazinesfor troops.com.

At first, requests trickled in, but soon grew as word spread.

“We were told sometime back that when they are over there and they are in need of anything, they go online,” she said. “We’re not looking for them any more. They are finding us without any problem.”

The couple now needs help paying the $11.35-per-box shipping cost and finding magazines to fill the boxes. They also need volunteers in Whitefish and Columbia Falls to put out boxes in those areas, and assist her as do “angel helpers” Sunnie La Vigne and another local couple.

Three times a week, those volunteers pick up donated magazines from Kalispell collection sites, sort them, toss the ones that are too old or inappropriate, then cut off any mail labels for security. Gunlock does the same in Polson, Ronan and smaller areas farther south.

“It would really help if there are people in Whitefish and Columbia Falls that want to do that,” Chase said.

Magazines for troops has collection sites at Rosauers, Glacier Bank branches and Harvest Foods in Bigfork. Gunlock maintains large collection sites at Walmart and Super One Foods in Polson and at Harvest Foods, Mission Mart and Lucky Strikes in Ronan.

When she and her helpers collect enough magazines and postage money to ship 50 boxes, they get together and pack an assortment of about 40 magazines per box. Chase gives priority to new requests, then sends as many as she can to fill repeat orders for other military units.

She would love to send all units a monthly box, but that would require nearly $2,000 for shipping.

“We do what we can. We’d like to take better care of them,” she said. “They appreciate everything so much.”

Along with setting up collection sites in Whitefish and Columbia Falls, Chase said people can help increase magazine donations by putting out collection boxes at their church or other places where people regularly go. She said some students who sell magazines have offered people an option of subscribing a magazine in the name of Magazines for Troops.

“If businesses were willing to put out a collection jar, that would help for postage donations,” Chase said. “If somebody wanted to adopt a box a month, they could do that for $11.35 per box. It’s not huge, but if a lot of people committed to adopting a box, it could really add up.”

People may use the website donate button to make a secure donation processed through PayPal. They may send checks or use the following address for magazine subscriptions:

Magazines for Troops

PO Box 339

Lakeside, MT 59922

All donations are tax deductable since Magazines for Troops is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

To read how much passing along a magazine or making a cash contribution means, donors need only visit “The Troops Say...” on the website to read testimonials like this one:

“We are so very appreciative of your encouragement and care packages. Our soldiers cannot do what they do over here without knowing they have the support of our home team! Thank you for your love and prayers.”

Chase often includes homemade thank you notes or Christmas cards from local schools or other groups to further lift morale.

For more information on this and other ways to help Magazines for Troops, call Chase at 261-9408 or Gunlock at 883-1517.