TUBFRIM is a humanitarian organization owned by the Norwegian Health Service. Used postage stamps are collected, packaged and resold to wholesalers and philatelists world wide. The profits earned from these activities are used to provide care and aid to handicapped children in Norway. 

When TUBFRIM was founded in 1928, the objective was to help finance research on tuberculosis and to aid children afflicted by the disease. As this particular disease has almost been eradicated, the objective has been modified. Today TUBFRIM funds provide financial aid for the Society for Health and Development of Retarded Children and Youth. Profits in 1929 totaled NOK 1,500; in 1996 they were NOK 430,000. The total amount TUBFRIM has raised since it was founded is 10 million kroner. 

Every year TUBFRIM receives about 200 kilograms of stamps from the United States. San Francisco and San Pedro are used as shipping ports for most of the stamps. Star Shipping, SAS (Scandinavian Airlines), and other shippers all carry the stamps for free.

 

Members of Sons of Norway are the most dedicated  collectors, and the organization has formal cooperation with TUBFRIM.  Local members collect the stamps in their lodges. There is even a competition between the lodges to see who can collect the most in a year.  Sons of Norway stamp chairmen in the United States advertise the TUBFRIM organization and the competition.  Every year SAS sponsors a free trip to Norway for the best stamp collector.

Never throw away canceled stamps. Just cut or tear the stamps off the envelope, leaving a slight margin (approx. 1/2 inch) to keep the perforation intact. TUBFRIM is also happy to receive stamp collections, old envelopes, covers and postcards. If postcards or envelopes are more than 40 or 50 years old, please do not cut off the stamp, but send the whole envelope/postcard! Stamps from any country in the world can be used, but it would save TUBFRIM a lot of work if you could separate U.S. stamps from those of other countries. Used postage stamps may be sent as surface mail directly to TUBFRIM, N-3540 Nesbyen, Norway, or to the nearest participating Sons of Norway lodge. You may also send stamps to the Norwegian Seamen’s Church at 2454 Hyde Street, San Francisco, CA 94109 or at 1035 S. Beacon Street, San Pedro, CA 90731. TUBFRIM also collects and sells used telephone cards. 

At Norrona, our Tubfrim Chairwoman is Elsa Breistein.