Deadline nears to send packages to deployed Soldiers [Dec. 4 ~ First Class, Priority Mail]

Army News Service ^ | Sgt. 1st Class Marcia Triggs

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Deadline nears to send packages to deployed Soldiers

By Sgt. 1st Class Marcia Triggs

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, November 14, 2003) – Christmas is a month away, but individuals only have half that time to get their packages to deployed troops in time for the holidays.

The deadline to get packages to the Central Command area in time for Christmas is Dec. 4 by First Class or Priority Mail, according to the United States Postal Service.

The key to getting packages to deployed troops on time is not only meeting the deadline, officials said, but also making sure everything is spelled correctly, to include the recipient’s full name, unit and address.

The best packages to mail are smaller ones, the size of a large shoebox, that weigh one to 20 pounds, said Navy Lt. Cmdr. Brian Lomax, the chief of Plans and Policy with the Military Postal Service Agency. Other rules to remember is that troops serving in operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom cannot receive pork products, alcohol beverages, pornographic material or religious items against the Islamic faith, Lomax said.

The Department of Defense urges the general public not to send unsolicited mail, care packages or donations to service members deployed unless they are a family member, loved one or personal friend of a troop.

There are some well-intentioned and patriotic groups who are trying to continue to support some form of the anonymous mail programs “Any Servicemember” and “Operation Dear Abbey,” but their actions could pose potential danger to the troops they wish to support, states the DoD’s troop support mail policy.

After the 9-11 anthrax attacks in October 2001, the “Any Servicemember” mail programs were suspended. However, several installations have received donations, and are passing the public’s gratitude on to troops by sending packages through official military mail.

An Army Reserve chaplain has mailed 300 donated packages to Iraq for Soldiers in the 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas, and plans to keep forwarding them as long as donations come in.

Lt. Col. DeWayne Brewer, the 4th Inf. Div. Rear Detachment chaplain, heads Operation Peace and Joy, a program that gives the public an opportunity to show their kindness toward service members while still protecting the privacy of Soldiers.

“I kept getting inquiries from people in the community on how they could send items to Soldiers. So I e-mailed a two-page letter to a few people explaining that we are prohibited from giving out individual Soldier names and addresses due to privacy reasons, but they could send donations to my office” said Brewer, a Kentucky native.

“Now I’m overwhelmed with the gifts that I’ve received. We go through the contents as a safety precaution, and my office has turned into a mailroom,” Brewer said. “This out pour reminds me of when Jesus fed multitudes with only fives loaves of bread and two fish.”

Donations have poured into Texas from as far away as Washington and Maine. Brewer sends the boxes, which contain enough gifts for two people, to chaplains in Iraq, who then distribute the gifts to their troops.

At Fort Carson, Colo., the Directorate of Community Activities is accepting donations from outside of the post’s gates, but it doesn’t take on the responsibility of mailing the packages.

“When we get in donations, we call units and ask if they want to accept them, then they come pick up the items and distribute how they see fit,” said an official from Fort Carson’s DCA.

Gifts worth more than $200,000 have been provided by the surrounding communities, said Netty Eastlake, the DCA deputy.

“It just touches my heart everyday to see the unsolicited support our Soldiers are receiving,” Eastlake said. “One company donated 100,000 Christmas cards so that Soldiers could send something back to their family members.”

“I know that it frustrates some who can’t directly mail packages to Soldiers, but the military is providing wonderful support to take care of its own,” Brewer said. “My idea wasn’t original. I piggybacked off another chaplain who was doing something similar in his unit.”

Lomax also recommends that people look for local organizations that support the family members of deployed troops.

“I remember when I spent several months away, I worried about my wife finding time for herself because we have three small children,” Lomax said. “It would have been a great relief knowing that she had someone who would watch the kids while she had an opportunity to go shopping or get her hair done.

“It would be a gift to rake a family member’s leaves, shovel her snow or volunteer to help maintain her yard.”

There are also several other programs to help people support and acknowledge service embers and their families. Log on to the following Web sites to show support, to include virtual thank-you cards and calling card donations to help troops stay in contact with loved ones:

http://www.defendamerica.mil/support_troops.html

http://www.usocares.org/home.htm

http://www.army.mil/operations/iraq/faq.html

[VOA]

thanks for bumping...this needs publicity with the Dec. 4th deadline drawing closing in.

[VOA]

bump for publicity...and a big "Howdy" to y'all chowin' down on that turkey, stuffing,
and cranberry sauce...
tomorrow, you shop for yourself, your family, and friends...
and hopefully for some goodies to send in a carepackage to some good soul serving us all
in the military.

[lakey]

I hope somebody is still online - I need help.

The Post Office told me yesterday when I bought boxes for shipping that I will need to fill out Customs forms. When I got home, my husband said, "No, you're shipping to an APO." Which I had told the lady at the P.O.

Now, a friend called just a while ago that she had shipped to a nephew in Iraq and she had to fill out the forms! (She was also told "no pork.")

[lakey]

O.K., so you're all chowin' down. And I've got a turkey in the oven. Will check back later.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

[VOA]

lakey,
check the link in post #3 in this thread (link titled: "They Won't Be Home....).

Yes, you'll need to fill out the Customs form. My (LOL)"Quick Guide"
that starts that "They Won't Be Home..." thread has the "magic words" you need to
put on the Customs form.


Additionally:
1. Mark the "Redirect" box on the form and write in "Commander/Chaplain"; that way,
if you want to make sure the package is put to good use if your soldier is on extended leave
or otherwise can't use the package...or the pack is accidentally delivered to
a remote location.

2. Prohibited items for Iraq (and I suppose Afghanistan) as well as I can tell:
Pork
Alcohol (even in products such as preserved food-stuffs; if I sent mouthwash as
part of a hygiene pack, I'd look for an alcohol-free brand)
"Pornography"...I'd even leave out the usual bikini calendar for 2004
Religious items, UNLESS for the personal use of the recipient (my guess is that you might
be able to send a small Bible or inspirational book...but that a box full of
religious tracts might get the box thrown out as contraband...and get your
service-person some mean questions from his/her superiors about not
trying to evangelize the locals.

3. Pony up the money for the Priority mail, if you can afford it. That will assure the package
should arrive by Christmas...and we do want somebody to have grins on the evening of
December 24!

4. DON'T pack soap or similar products with foodstuffs...the food will likely have
a soapy essence by the time it arrives!


G-d Bless you for even your interest.
I've sent four packages to Iraq so far, will send 3 more before Dec. 4.
I impulsively sent one to a soldier north of Baghdad, without informing his parents
(the APO address was listed by my old hometown newspaper).
I finally called his family home and this family was delighted that someone
had done this...and then they sobered me up good by saying their son had
had his promised leave rescinded a couple of times due to the Army's needs.

lakey, if you've got any more questions, please post. I'll surely be back in 24 hours or less.

[VOA]

And I've got a turkey in the oven. Will check back later.
Sounds like that wonderful labor of love!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

And one to you to!
Actually, this is also an excuse to bump the thread and point you to post 185 with the
info. you need.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Thanks, VOA.

O.K., lakey? Yes, you do need to fill out a customs' form. Our local postal clerks say just estimate ~ 20# food, 10# games/books, etc.

Happy Thanksgiving, to you both. Thanks for taking care of the troops!

[lakey]

Thank you for taking time to answer! How did I miss post #3??? Whew! If I had to list each item in depth, it would take till midnight.

But I love doing this sort of thing. Anybody from "Angels," on. Great fun!

Anyway, the turkey is done. Time to call the gang. Labor of love, sort of. The love part is fine, it's the labor that gets to me.

Almost forgot - I am not buying boxer shorts for the men. Couldn't find anything that even remotely resembling "military." Daffy duck, maybe.

Have a wonderful evening, my FRiends.

[VOA]

Labor of love, sort of. The love part is fine, it's the labor that gets to me.

Maybe a tip for the future: fried turkey.
I only overheard a fellow on talk radio saying this is what he does...only takes something
like three minutes.
Downside? Can't stuff the turkey...

As for the main topic...as I've said before (as a broken record), shopping for,
packaging, and shipping care-packages yourself to ship to known service personnel is tiring.
But, as David Letterman says, "It's a good kind of tired!".

[VOA]

Only hours to Friday shopping mania...and picking up some goodies for those
military care-packages...to be shipped by that December 4th deadline!

oh, and BUMP!

[VOA]

Only hours to Friday shopping mania...and picking up some goodies for those
military care-packages...to be shipped by that December 4th deadline!

oh, and BUMP!

[VOA]

Friday shopping bump!

[VOA]

bump

[VOA]

bump for publicity...December 4th deadline is approaching!

[VOA]

Dear lurkers/posters...Pass The Word!

Dubya DELIVERED the turkey and the morale-injection...time for us to
deliver the goods for the next holiday!!!

Deadline for mailing military carepackages for Christmas delivery is DECEMBER 4TH!

(and we all know in our hearts those Christmas packages MUST be there by/before December 24th...
shhh...don't tell the children...)

For info, see threads at there URLs:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1023324/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1003802/posts

[VOA]

bump for publicity

[Revelation 911]

bump

[Corin Stormhands]

"Our" chaplain is currently home from Afghanistan. He will ship out to Iraq we believe sometime after Christmas.

Also, I am not at liberty to give out his name and address. If you are sending things directly to a particular unit/soldier, it is most important than you already have a personal connection.

There are several groups out there organizing efforts. You may want to check some of them out.

I'm pinging our two Hobbit Hole coordinators to this response. They may be able to provide you with additional information.

[lakey]

If you are sending things directly to a particular unit/soldier, it is most important than you already have a personal connection. hmmm VOA - shouldn't this be clarified now? I have everything ready to mail tomorrow morning, but will not till someone re-assures me.

[lakey]

spell correction didn't work. hmmm & re-assures