CARE PACKAGES for our Troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, 2006

patriciaruth ^ | 1-21-06 | patriciaruth

[fanfan]

Hooray!

Welcome back Patty!

(((Patty)))

[SwatTeam]

Terrific! I hope you never have to go through that again. In fact, I hope none of us do.

Amazon notified me that they were mailing the DVD I ordered for Ramadi today. I thought it wouldn't be available until the 12 of Sept, but evidently not. So maybe he will get it before he goes home for leave.

[BykrBayb]

Welcome back! J

[PGalt]

FreeRepublic's finest supporting America's finest BUMP!

[patriciaruth]

Mailed September 5, 2006, to Bagram air base, Afghanistan, 2 boxes
Box 1, value $56.47, postage $8.60 with delivery confirmation
23 individual packages of Wet Ones citrus (donated by my optometrist)
9 boxes of Vitamin World’s brand of ‘airborne’ (10 tablets each)
1 pair Banana Republic boxer shorts, grey cotton blend, Large

Box 2, value $54.09, postage $8.60 with delivery confirmation
23 individual packages of Wet Ones citrus (donated by my optometrist)
6 boxes of generic “airborne” (10 tablets each)
2 pair Banana Republic boxer shorts, grey cotton blend, L and XL

[angelsonmyside]

Patricia and friends
I am trying to send a Microwave to a young friends unit in Afganistan. Any clues on the most cost effective way to do it? I am used to sending packages but never sent anything this large or heavy. Any suggestions would be helpful.

[fanfan]

1 pair Banana Republic boxer shorts, grey cotton blend, Large

LOL!

Special request?

[patriciaruth]

What state do you live in and have you already bought the microwave?

[patriciaruth]

No, I happened to be in Banana Republic while we were at the discount retailers outlet shopping mall getting my 2 for 1 glucosamine chondroitin and the "airborne" cold remedy requested by Bagam. My hubby was buying himself a T-shirt to mow the lawn in. I remembered they needed underwear for the wounded sometimes and the larger sizes were the most needed.

Of course they can use them for the soldiers if they want something to sleep in. They felt very soft and thick and comfortable and winter will be coming. It was an impulse buy.

[fanfan]

That was very sweet of you Patty.

:-)

[angelsonmyside]

I live in TN and no I have not purchased it yet. I was planning on picking it up at Walmart Saturday.

[Coop]

Try buying it online and have the company ship it for you.

[angelsonmyside]

I didn't think they would ship to an APO

[Coop]

I don't know why they wouldn't. There are a variety of options where companies will send stuff to troops overseas.

Here's another, cheaper (as far as shipping) option, if the unit has access to an Army/Air Force exchange.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6435603/

Friends and family of military overseas also can send a gift certificate from the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES), one-shop shops for military personnel worldwide that stock all sort of goods, from licorice sticks to digital cameras to “bug-out” bags. A “bug out” bag is a backpack that service members pack in anticipation of having to change locations at a moment’s notice, explains Judd Anstey, an AAFES public affairs specialist. Soldiers can buy anything they want with the gift certificate but CDs and DVDs have been the most popular, she says.

Sold in denominations of $10 and $20, gift certificates can be redeemed at any AAFES PX (Postage Exchange) or BX (Base Exchange) throughout the world. The AAFES currently operates 51 stores in the “SW Asian theater” or the countries involved in Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom (OEF/OIF), including 29 in Iraq, 10 in Kuwait, five in Afghanistan, four in Qatar/UAE/Djibouti, one in Pakistan, one in Kyrgyzstan and one in Uzbekistan.

[Coop]

Whatever you decide, thanks for caring! :-)

[angelsonmyside]

I didn't even think about having them ship it but I did go to the website and they consider it an over-sized item. At least I know how much is weighs now (25.3 lbs) thanks to your suggestion and a little more research on their site.

Unfortunately his unit does not have access to the Exchange. That is a great idea for some of my other friends though, Thanks

[JoyjoyfromNJ]

"with delivery confirmation"

I didn't think delivery confirmation services were available to either Iraq or Afghanistan. Have you been successful or is this a ploy to keep potential thieves away from the boxes?

[patriciaruth]

It's a new service the post office is offering. They will track the package now until it reaches the Army Post Office destination in the U.S. (cost 50 cents)

From then on the mail is in the hands of the APO carrier.

[patriciaruth]

Yes, some companies will ship to APO, but because you live in Tennessee, the shipping charges won't be too awfully bad for you to do it yourself as the APO (Army Post Office) isn't really far from you.

Just send it in the box it comes in. Get insurance and delivery confirmation at the post office, so it will be tracked and not stolen. It has to go USPS only, priority mail. Whose the lucky soldier?

Be sure not to purchase one that isn't already packed in a box. The dimensions will fit the post office rules on maximum size, so don't worry about that.

If you don't know how to fill out a customs forms, check posts 31 and 32 on this thread. Some more information is at post 49.

Too cool!

Cheers!
Patty

[angelsonmyside]

"Whose the lucky soldier?"

This one is a very sweet young man that grew up with my children. He just lived around the corner and they have been friends since grade school. This one is Air Force and is in Afghanistan.

His FOB is in a pretty remote area and the amenities are pretty sparse compared to most of the ones I send stuff to. With winter months just around the corner I know they will all enjoy something as simple as a cup of Hot Cocoa or Spiced Cider. So hopefully it will get there in good working condition.

He did tell me their mail is something they can't get often. They have to go to Kandahar once a week to get it but he said the roads are often blacked out because of the area being so dangerous. He did say that sometimes it is airlifted to them.

The Marine that grew up in my home with us is on his 3rd deployment in Iraq. He has less than a year to go and he will be out. That is if he does not re-enlist.

By the way I have exciting news. When my son returned home from his deployment in Qatar he brought home a "live" souvenir, lol. He met a girl that was deployed there as well and they are getting married. So my Military Family is GROWING ;-)

So now I'm down to just 2 to send things to and it sure is easier. As far as the custom's forms go, I do them ahead a time when I'm in the mood to do 5 or 6 for each and have them ready. That way when I have a packaged filled all I have to do is fill out section that list the items. APO's aren't so bad it's the the dang FPO's that will give you writers cramp.