Soldier Gifts for Those In Iraq....AWESOME pics!!!!

[karanleaf]

Any advice from those who have already sent packages out??? I will be sending a couple of boxes out soon. Which is best way to send them UPS, Postal, or other? Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

Karan

 

[momofdrew]

Karan
USPS has a flat rate box... it is 12 x 12 x 6 and holds a lot especially if you take stuff out of the wrappers and I fill all spaces with hard candy individually wrapped....it cost 10.95 no matter the weight...you can pick them up at the post office and dont forget to get some customs forms at the same time...

I have found the post office very helpful when I went in to ask questions..

If you are going to be sending frequently you may want to get a care kit free from the post office the phone number is
1 800 610 8734 hit option 1 and ask for a care kit 4 and they will send a roll of priorty tape and flat rate boxes and the custom forms with in 5 days...

Pam

 

[karanleaf]

Thanks Pam I will call and get a kit. I have posted Troy's place n the Courthouse and have acollection area setup and posted dates for each of the next 3 months to send packages out.

Karan

 

[wegotchickens]

Athena, you & Troy's Place have been on my mind a lot lately. Hope everything is going OK!

 

[momofdrew]

Yeah me too!!!

 

[Run-A-Muck Ranch]

Sorry I didn't read all the posts on this....so with that being said, if any of this is repeats sorry in advance....
When Jason was deployed the first time I sent everything in flat rate boxes (2 different sizes at that time)....Way way way cheaper than sending even a shoe box. Yes some things had to be sent in nonflat rate boxes, but most went in them. I know the prices have sky rocketed on those (used to be $6.95 per box now I think it's some where around $11 a box). You can order them in bundles of 25 for free from USPS.com....Gonna have to stock up here again myself...
I found lots of internet sites where I could order individual packets of things alot cheaper than at say Sam's Club. They would get shipped here and then I put them into other boxes and sent out. Freezey pops are AWESOME over there. I would send Jason 2 boxes of those a week. They fit into a flat rate box and I was still able to put other stuff on top of that in the box.
Theme boxes were wonderful to send over too.... I would send a theme box for each holiday (ok maybe it was more like 4 or 5 boxes themed for each holiday). I sent Jason things like a small Christmas tree, lights, orniments, stockings, candy canes, etc. etc. for Christmas. Face paint, small halloween decorations, spooky sound effects cd's, halloween candy, etc. at halloween time. Every holiday you name it I sent themed boxes, even birthday, anniversary, birth of new baby for soldiers who weren't home during these times, I did a hillbilly themed boxes, hawiian lula, summer fun, even sent themed boxes so they could plant gardens and grow there own plots of grass(yes some of the guys would be out there mowing there lawns with scissors)..... During deer hunting I sent crockpots and canned venison, football season/superbowl there were themed boxes, 4th of July (I did send sparklers and little things like that). My lists could go on and on. I sent these theme boxes to Jason, after he opened them he would set them in a general area in there bunker and whoever needed or wanted to use the stuff had use of it....
I even sent Jason a box of 50 pounds of FRESH cheese curds on time. It took a month to get, but the cheese curds were still fresh and the guys loved them...
Yes things have to be sent out way earlier than normal because of the longer travel time, but it was worth it...Sometimes even a little challenging to find those holiday items when the holiday was still a month or two away....
I also sent regular boxes to him....personal hygenie items were in high demand, fresh socks and underwear, sunscreen, eyedrops, ziplock baggies, qtips(not only for personal use, but they also used them to clean guns and weapons often because of all the dust and dirt.).
There are soooooooooo many items I sent Jason it's unreal...... Yes, some of the items/packages he never got. There are lovely people who like to raid the boxes, and if they find something of interest keep it...CD'S, DVD's, games, money those were always items that dissappeared and the boxes were never seen.
Insurance was put on larger ticket items...computer, dvd player, things like that, but in general I didn't do it otherwise...And as for the itemization on the mailing labels, I would just do a general run down of some of the things in the boxes, Couldn't remember all of them all teh time....
jason leaves this friday (12/5/08) and won't be home until April 2010. And I have already begun looking for Easter stuff to send him, by the time I send the Valentine's boxes and the St. Patty's Day boxes it will be time for the Easter ones....
As I think of more items, I will try and add to this.....

Sorry for the long ramblings, and again sorry if this has all been repeated....Just trying to share some ideas for boxes to send....
Shawna

 

[momofdrew]

Shawna
Thanks for the ideas...that helps... keep us up to date on your honey I think this is a good way to support each other... there are others on BYC who have loved ones over there...

The bigger of the 2 flat rate boxes cost 10.95...also if you call 18006108734 option 1 you ask for a care kit 4 USPS sends customs forms and a big roll of tape as well as boxes and lables...

My son left Fort Bragg at 4:20 this morning called us at 6:30 he was in Bangor Me Airport they were on their way to Ireland he will try to call us from there...I dont have his APO address yet but already have a list of what needs to be sent...I doubt he'll get the CHristmas stuff on time... they can celebrate late...
The Post office said for Christmas it has to be mailed by the 4th of December...He has a small platoon only 19 guys so I plan on sending stuff for the whole platoon to share...

Pam

 

[karanleaf]

Shawna
Yes Thanks so much for the ideas...that helps alot.... You have some great themes and ideas going

That will give me more ideas to post for folks think about when they drop items off for shippments. Thanks again. I guess I will send a few NewYears items with this shipment. And next will be Valentines and St Patty's

Thanks

Karan

 

[momofdrew]

Darlene Anybody??

Have you heard from Athena???? Hope she is alright...

 

[wegotchickens]

She is probably just very busy.

She last posted on 11/28... Maybe we should give her a little more time?