Military Care Packages: Part II

[Venus193]

I wish I did, but I've never filled out one of those online.  The 6-part carbon form I fill out doesn't require it.

[Wonderflonium]

I wish I did, but I've never filled out one of those online.  The 6-part carbon form I fill out doesn't require it.

thanks. i guess i'll just do it at the post office (i was trying to save time  ).

a few more questions:

1. Are the boxes typically given to one person, or are they opened and the items distributed? I assumed it was the latter, but I wanted to check.
2. Also, this group wanted hygiene products and snacks (as most do), so to keep things from getting (for lack of a better word) yucky, I'm sending them two separate boxes. Is this OK and/or normal?

any feedback would be appreciated!

[Wonderflonium]

One more thing: I got flat-rate boxes, but they seem a bit small (especially for some of the snack containers I have). Any ideas where I can get bigger boxes? I had no luck at Wal-Mart or K-Mart.

(Sorry for all the questions; I just really want to do this right.)

[Venus193]

Separate boxes for hygiene products and snacks is absolutely recommended.  In the event that the box sits for three weeks in 110-degree heat you don't want the cookies to taste like the soap.  The only exception to that is packages of razors or anything that isn't chemically-based, if you don't have other hygiene products going at that moment.

There are other boxes at the post office that are free.  Ask for Priority Box #7 which is 12x12x8 inches.  That's my favorite one for toiletries.  For snacks I like the 12x12x18 ones I buy at Staples.  They're sold at 3 for 11.95.

I stopped using the flat-rate boxes when I discovered that I wasn't saving any money.  This morning I sent three #7 boxes, total weight about 62 pounds, for $37 total postage.  Flat rate boxes are meant for ebay sellers for the ease of calculating postage, but they are unlikely to hold enough heavy supplies to make it cost-effective for me.  Check the postal rates from your area:  Unless you pay more than a dollar a pound the flat-rate boxes aren't worth it.

Finally, anything you send to a person found through AnySoldier.com is shared.  Many soldiers who receive stuff from family share it, too.

[Venus193]

You're welcome.

Don't forget to assign a value to the package contents and save your customs forms and postal receipts (and receipts for boxes, tape, and ziplock bags) for your income taxes.

[hobish]

I'm not sure if this belongs exactly here, but i wanted to tell you that my job picked up on this or a similar project. They are handing out large zipper-lock bags to the employees to put items in and the company is paying the shipping charges to send items to the US troops.

We haven't met our goal of volume contributed; but we're getting there.

For those who might argue about this being done in the work-place, it is very very low pressure. People can pick up bags in the cafeteria and redeposit them in boxes where they will be later prepared for shipping with no one knowing who did or didn't contribute.

The community programs that my corporate masters do, especially the ones that are suggested by the employees are done well and done often and i think it is one of the better things about working for them.

I'm especially happy that we're doing this.

[Venus193]

That's a great thing.

If I had a higher title I would advocate in my industry that we do this.  At the very least most ad agencies receive comp issues of consumer magazines that can easily be collected and sent to the troops.  Many of us also have clients who make products popular with the military.  I had hoped that when my client reacted enthusiastically that she would initiate something within her company, but she is weak on follow-through.

[Lisbeth]

I noticed that a lot of the service members in the website are asking for water guns.

I wouldn't have thought those were allowed.  Other kinds of "fun" items, yes, but not those because of their resemblance (superficially) to working firearms.

[afbluebelle]

I always thought they meant the little neon ones (easier to ship).

I got two new addresses!  Both Marines, and all men squads... I'm so darn used to sending guys care packages from all my friends.  This is the first time that we've all been at our home stations at once, so I figured I would adopt a few troops. 

Mine requested Silly String    Although it is used for a good purpose, when you see a request for silly tring and condoms, it makes you giggle.

[Venus193]

UPDATE:

Check out this article reviewing water guns (I had no clue they could be this sophisticated):

http://www.slate.com/id/2170024/pagenum/all/#page_start

[Wonderflonium]

Mine requested Silly String    Although it is used for a good purpose, when you see a request for silly tring and condoms, it makes you giggle.

I mailed my first 2 packages on Saturday (yay!), and when they were weighing it, they asked me if it contained a standard list of things, including silly string. Is it no longer OK to send this?

For various reasons, I ended up at 2 different post offices (long story), but only the first asked about the silly string.

[Venus193]

I don't know about Silly String, but there has always been a problem sending things in an aerosol can.

[afbluebelle]

I've never had a problem shipping it... but I am not sure.

[Lisbeth]

I heard back from my soldier today.  They really liked the office supplies, especially the CDs, because they have lots of pictures and music they want to share.  It sounds like the pens were really popular too.

Perhaps next time I'll try the water guns.

[Venus193]

I'm going to start looking for them in the cheap stores in my area.

I have more Mentha body wash to send this week.  The women in the group I support are thrilled with the B&BW products.  I did go a little overboard, I do admit.

Question for everyone:  I have a lot of movies to send which can be divided into Epics and Popcorn movies (mostly guy stuff).  Send 2 or 3 themed packages or mix it up?