They Won't Be Home For The Holidays: A Quick Guide To Care Packages For Miltary Personnel

October 19, 2003 | VOA(me)

[VOA]

Preamble -- October 18 marks my first shipment of care packages to a Military service-person overseas
(specifically to Baghdad). I was going to do it since about summer, but hesitated...partly because I wasn't
sure how to proceed. Thus, I now present a (Very) Quick Guide to the sending of care packages.


Point #1: Timing IS EVERYTHING
Keep these DEADLINE dates in mind (from the US Navy website at this URL:
http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/questions/holidaymail.html

The United States Navy

Holiday mailing — 2003

The Naval Supply Systems Command's Postal Policy Division, in cooperation with the U.S. Postal Service and military postal officials from all of the services, notes that it’s not too early to mail 2003 holiday cards, letters, and packages to and from military addresses overseas. In fact, everyone is encouraged to beat the last minute rush, and bring holiday mail and packages to the nearest U.S. Post Office or APO/FPO military post office by these suggested dates:

For military mail addressed to APO and FPO addresses, the mailing dates are:	For military mail FROM APO and FPO addresses, the mailing dates are:
Parcel post — Nov. 13 Space available — Nov. 28 Parcel airlift — Dec. 4 Priority mail, first class cards and letters — Dec. 11	Space available — Nov. 20 Parcel airlift — Dec. 4 Priority mail, first class cards and letters — Dec. 11

Revised: 25 September 2003

---

Point #2: Identify Your Target (Service Person)

You must have a specific service person's address for the mailing of letters or packages; the "any service man"
mailing is a thing of the past.

Even if you don't know a person serving oversears personally, you know someone who does.
Ask around, check with your faith community (church, temple, etc.), your city newspaper.
For example, my hometown newpaper even has a website with service- persons names and military
address. In my case, I contacted the employer of a U.S. Army chaplain; they had his APO (military)
address and e -mail address.

Point #3: If Sending A Package, Try To Contact The Service Person FIRST, if possible
Even though 99.999% of service personnel would love (and be happy with) a nice, supportive letter from
stateside, a package really sends the message.
Luckily, I was able to exchange e-mails with a Chaplin in Baghdad and thus he gave me a prioritized list
of school supplies his unit needs to help their adopted elementary school

Take-home message: prior contact gives the service person what they need, maximizing the benefit/cost
factor.


Point #4: Consult the USPS (United States Postal Service) for information
Talking to counter personnel is helpful, but time-consuming, so go to www.usps.gov
Consult: "Supporting Our Troops FAQs" at http://www.usps.supportingourtroops/supportingfaqs.htm
Military Addressing Tips at http://www.usps.supportingourtroops/addressingtips.htm
Military Packaging Tips at http://www.usps.supportingourtroops/packagingtips.htm
Other Ways To Support Our Troops at http://www.usps.supportingourtroops/otherways.htm

These will give you the basics and answers virtually all your questions.
For those who desire to send packages, the take-home is that you can box up goods in a "Domestic"
Priority Mail box, take it to the US Post Office, fill out a PS Form 2976-A Customs Declartion and
Dispatch Note" for each box you send.

Point #5: OBEY Restrictions on your mail! Don't tick off the host country!!
While at the "Supporting Our Troops FAQs" at http://www.usps.supportingourtroops/supportingfaqs.htm
click on the Overseas Military Mail link. Use the military "zip code" in your service person's military
address to determine which (of that huge list of) restrictions apply to your shipment.
Of course, the usual biggies are the prohibition on shipping pork and against shipping religional material'
for other than personal use by the service-person.
DON'T be intimidated by the restrictions list...take a few minutes to work through it in order to avoid
problems.

Point #6: Time to get the box and all the stuff to go in it!
Make out your shopping list
Go to the USPS office and pick up an appropriate shipping box.
In my case, I found I could load and send two "Domestic" Priority Mail boxes.
I took the box with me to the store, and noted if the items to ship would fit that box.
Load up box, leave one flap easy to open, in case the Post Office counter-person wants to
inspect the contents.
Also write out a "shipping manifest" to go into the box. This could help postal workers to
reassemble the shipment if the box should break. Xerox a copy for your records (or store
on computer)

Point #7: Time to mail!
Take your box(es) to your local post office.
Fill out a Form 2976 or Form 2976-A for customs purposes.
I used the Form 2976-A for each box. Here is the important part...put this verbatim phrase in the
box for description of the box contents:

"Certified to be a bona fide gift, personal effects, or items for personal use of
military personnel and their dependents."

Pay the shipping charges. In my case, it cost about $14 for me to send a TOTALLY packed
Priority Mail box, weighing about 10 pounds.
Priority Mail going the APO or FPO route should take 10-15 days to arrive; the less expensive
parcel route takes more like 24 days.

Point *8: Contact your service person, if possible
Because tracking is not available for even Priority Mail going through the APO/FPO
system, send an e-mail to your service-person to let them know the package is on the way;
include the "shipping manifest" in the e-mail for two reasons.
The shipping manifest lets the service-person know what material is "in the pipeline" and thus
they can customize/re-prioritize their wish-list for other donors.

[ASOC]

Not me friend

Thanks to the Bagdaddy whi sent it to us....

Now, in the immortal words of RL Emery

Get off your ass and send that package - or drop and give me 20!

[TruthNtegrity]

I've had the following requested (even though I'd sent these items) they indicated that they love 'em and appreciated them being sent:

M&M's - Peanut, plain, almonds (I used them as "packing material" around the other items I include)

Kleenex - packets, if possible

Beef Jerky

novels: westerns, mysteries, gothic novels for the ladies

crossword & cryptogram books

the latest Time,Newsweek, US News & World Report

The first section of the Wash. Times

Automobile section of any newspaper

boxed brownies or cookies

hard fruit-flavored candy

Twizzlers- strawberry, licorice

For those with FPO addresses - usually on a ship, VCR tapes of anything are greatly appreciated

Advil, aspirin, anti-histamine, chapstick, sunblock

socks - cotton, black or brown

underwear


I have also purchased, on request, gun cleaner. I read an article that said that the Gommint issued wasn't very effective against sand, and asked my brother, a skeet shooter, what to buy. He recommended anything a gunshop said was "the best they had". I didn't have any problems listing these items on the Customs list.

Be sure to list GIFTS - as Customs might think they should get some kind of tax for items you are shipping that are not marked as gifts.

Go to PO before you mail your box, pick up some of the Custom forms, take them home and fill them out in the comfort of your home. When you go to the PO, at least, around here, I've noticed that there seems to be a line and filling out the Customs form while standing in line isn't the most fun thing to do.

If you have children, or know a teacher, have the kids in their class draw pictures to send to the troops. They love these drawings from kids. Have the children draw pictures of flags, or yellow ribbons around trees, so they get the idea that we are supporting them!!

Include a sheet of paper on the inside with your name and address and email address. Sometimes, oftentimes, the return address label gets torn off in transit. If you want your recipient to know who sent it, or have a chance at knowing, include a piece of paper on the inside. A nice note along with it would be nice.

Talk about your life, talk about anything funny you've heard, talk abouth how much support there is for them.

SOME OF OUR TROOPS THINK THAT THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO WEAR THEIR UNIFORMS WHEN THEY GET HOME - FOR FEAR OF BEING YELLED AT. Remember, most of them are getting all of their "news" from the Clinton News Network, thus they haven't a clue how much we love them, are praying for them, and want to see them come home safe and sound. They think we are angry with them, don't think they should be there, and will make fun of them or shout angry things at them when they come home. Please, PLEASE, let them know that nothing could be further from the truth.

Please tell them that the political season has started early - that there are 10 Democrat candidates bashing the President and the Iraqi war daily, but that is NOT the opinion of most Americans.

Please tell them that we are praying for them, that we are helping their families when a wife needs to have something repaired, or can't find a babysitter, or a child needs some help at school. I have volunteered to help tutor any child in a Military family, for free. I have offered to do free babysitting if an emergency comes up, and I have volunteered to do grocery shopping when someone can't get out. Please tell them that we are helping and supporting their families back here, the best we know how.

Sorry this is so long - but I have a lot of ideas about what to send.

[TruthNtegrity]

Tonk, do you know the URL for the FR thread on the change in zipcodes? I think it would be helpful to post that information here, especially for those who might use VOA's list to grab an address - but I think everyone should verify the Zip!!!

Thanks in advance.

[Soaring Feather]

Holiday Care Packages Bump

bump to the top Thanks for the ping Sam.

[BushisTheMan]

What a great list. I've included a Football magazine, and the Twizzlers (because my daughter loves them herself). I've also gotten the custom forms and filled it in advance. I always include a card/personal note to the soldier, and have my address/e-mail on it.

But your list gave me several other good suggestions. For example, I didn't want to send Newsweek because it is such a Commie magazine, but I'll bet they are hungry for news. However, I'll print out several articles that are pro-military to include next time. And I liked your suggestions of what to put in the notes...that's the hardest part for me. Writing to someone you don't know that well, but I'm doing it anyway. I always try to send funny cards -- Halloween, Thank You cards, etc.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"Tonk, do you know the URL for the FR thread on the change in zipcodes?"

New APO Zips for Soldiers in Iraq

[TruthNtegrity]

About calling cards. IF your serviceperson is overseas, what I've heard is that AT&T are the most useful. That doesn't mean, of course, that if the recipient can't use it, that they can't find someone to whom to regift!!

[VOA]

thanks for the helpful links...I've bumped each of them

[VOA]

Go to PO before you mail your box, pick up some of the Custom forms, take them home
and fill them out in the comfort of your home.

You nailed that topic on the head.
And it's not a bad idea to pick up the packet/box from the PO that you think you'll use.
I took a Priority Post box with me to the store...to make sure what items would/could
fit.

[VOA]

a bump for exposure...then I'm gone for the day!

[4integrity]

God bless you, Truth and VOA and all of you!! It is so important to remember the families of our brave troops. I contacted MacDill AFB in Tampa during Operation ShoeBox. MacDill could not mail the shoe boxes but they gave the shoe boxes to families of deployed soldiers. I also bought gift certificates for local family restaurants i.e. Applebees, McDonalds and Publix supermarket gift certificates and gave them to MacDill Family Services to distribute to the most needy families. The St. Pete Times printed the name and address of a member of the Florida legislature who is serving in Iraq. I sent several shoeboxes to him....Dollar stores have great items that are in 'smaller' containers. They have lunchbox size tins of Doritos and potato chips, bags of individually wrapped hard candies and gum and wash cloths that are complactly folded into shapes of stars,fish and hearts. VOA, THANK YOU, for the Christmas reminder. You're right, we must send these packages now to get there for Christmas. These wonderful men and women need tangible reminders of our support in addition to our ongoing prayers. God bless all of you for the info in these posts.

[VOA]

4integrity, thanks for the kind remarks.
I just hope the thread has helped some folks over the "activation energy" barrier
that delayed me from mailing out somehting earlier.

[VOA]

bump for publicity

[Lucy Lake]

Another thing I've been sending my service person is M&M's in the little individual packets, eyedrops, chap-stick, also sent some small stuffed animals, and a soccer ball.

I read our soldiers are teaching the young Iraqi boys to play soccer, thereby giving them something useful and fun to do.

[CheneyChick]

2. It's good to remember lady soldiers are in the theater. Include some items with more feminine appeal if you know there are lady soldiers in the unit.

BTTT on that!

[tsmith130]

Bump and save!

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Thank you, bump!

[KineticKitty]

Here is a helpful list of things that soldiers appreciate recieving.

Happy "care package sending".

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!