A small, four-inch magnet – along with dirty ice and salt collected from recent snowstorms – clings to the back of George Brochs’ red GMC Jimmy.

Brochs, a manager at the Spring Garden Restaurant, 1262 W. Lincoln Highway, said his children bought the magnet, a yellow ribbon that symbolizes support for the U.S. troops currently overseas.

The magnets have been seen on vehicles and sold in different stores since first hitting the public around September, but some see potential problems with the patriotic symbol.

Jenny Webster, president of the NIU Veterans Club, said her group has not sold any magnets and that she bought hers online. Despite her patriotism, she questions whether profits from ribbon sales are going to support the troops.

“A lot of places I’ve seen them sold don’t say anything about charity,” Webster said.

Her magnet was purchased through the American Legion, a national organization based on active support of U.S. troops.

“Even if the money doesn’t go to charity, it’s still a good thing,” Webster said. “Anything patriotic is good for me.”

Local gas stations and Walgreens sell various kinds, including red, white and blue magnets – and pink ones symbolizing support for breast cancer awareness.

While profits of ribbon sales from some local vendors go to charities, others do not.

Road Ranger, 1734 Sycamore Road, sells the yellow ribbon version. Profits collected from those sales by the Wisconsin-based distributor, for the local Ranger station, do not go to any charity.

“The one model that we sell is the basic yellow ribbon that says ‘Support Our Troops,’” said Carol Hively, a corporate spokeswoman for Walgreens. She said 50 percent of sales from the ribbons go to the United Service Organization World Headquarters, based in Arlington, Va.

One online magnet distributor, Flagsoncars.com, sells a variety of decals,

including awareness ribbons for cancer research and magnetic flag symbols.

The company claims its magnets are made in the United States and asks consumers not to purchase magnets from Walgreens, Wal-mart and other chain stores, since they are made in China. The company makes donations to the United Way Sept. 11 Fund.

One local body shop owner said that prolonged use of the magnets can cause some changes to a vehicle’s surface.

Wade Williams, owner of Jim’s Body Shop, 817 S. Fourth St., said some lighter-color vehicles could see some color differences from leaving the magnets on too long.

Williams hasn’t had anyone come in to his shop with magnet-related damage to their vehicles.

Brochs’ magnet has been on his car since October, but he hasn’t noticed a change in the red paint.

People who leave anything over the paint for too long could see resulting discoloration, Williams said.

“If your paint isn’t bonding good, it’s possible it can pull some paint off of it,” Williams said.

He recommends magnets be moved to different locations to prevent discoloration and any stickers be removed using a blow dryer.