Mad Magazine, pure brilliance.

March 4, 2009 6:14 PM

I know many magazine questions have already been asked, but I believe this one needs its own thread. What do I do with the MAD magazines I have from about 2000 to now?

Specific ideas would be preferred, as I know I can toss them on Freecycle or Craig's List any time. I tried to donate them to the military once, as I had read a letter from an Army librarian in Iraq to the magazine thanking them, but there is no real way to give it to them.

posted by DolorousEdd to grab bag (12 comments total)

If you don't mind breaking up the collection, you could send it via media mail to members of the military deployed abroad. Any Soldier is a great resource for sending care packages to an organizer, who then distributes them to members of his or her combat group.
posted by charmcityblues at 7:09 PM on March 4

My dad has every MAD magazine ever published (he started collecting at 9 and never stopped) and I used to LOVE sick days because that meant reading a stack from the 1960s or 70s. If I were you, I'd see if a kid in your neighborhood might like to have them (they also could make a good art project for a local art school or collage...)
posted by melodykramer at 7:11 PM on March 4

I'm sure any group of preteen kids you could find would love them as a gift. Is your question how to find the right folks to donate them to?
posted by mediareport at 7:37 PM on March 4

See if your local prison library wants them.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 8:04 PM on March 4 [1 favorite has favorites]

Nearly ten years worth? That's a lot of Mad right there.

You could simply drop a few off at local hospital waiting rooms. Or your doctor/dentist/hair-dresser etc.
posted by Mephisto at 8:17 PM on March 4

I gave a ton of mags to our local prison. They were gratefully recieved!
posted by Duke999R at 9:03 PM on March 4

Give 'em to a local Boys or Girls Club, or a children's hospital...you could be inspiring a future comedy writer!
posted by motown missile at 3:31 AM on March 5

Ebay.
posted by watercarrier at 3:36 AM on March 5

Any younger siblings, nephews, cousins you could give them to?
posted by UsernameFilter at 3:56 AM on March 5

I give magazines to the Assistance League of Glendale. Google the Assistance League of America for one in your area. Great charity, at least here in Glendale, CA it is.
posted by snowjoe at 6:22 AM on March 5

Does your library have a free periodical stand? Patrons drop off their old magazines (surprisingly up-to-date and more varied than National Geographics from the Carter administration) and grab magazines left by others.
posted by spamguy at 6:46 AM on March 5

Giving them to a prison is a great idea, actually. Call around; you'll almost certainly find one willing to take them.
posted by mediareport at 4:00 PM on March 5