Feature Articles
Care package tips for loved ones overseas
Starla L. Ivey, PhD, Building Strong
Families Program
Reviewed by Mary Jo Williams, 4-H Associate State
Specialist / Leadership Development and Lucy Schrader,
Building Strong Families Program Coordinator, College of
Human Environmental Sciences, University of
Missouri-Extension
When family members are separated, care packages and
cards can be a reminder that others are thinking of
them.
This article gives some packing and mailing tips and
ideas of what to send. Please see the references for
more specific information.
Packing and Mailing Tips:
- Instead of using Styrofoam packing peanuts (which are hard to get rid of) use items that can be reused as packing materials such as: plastic grocery bags, plastic zipper-type bags, newspapers, small tissue packages.
- Mail toiletries separate from food items; otherwise food ends up tasting like deodorant.
- If sending batteries, ship them in new and unopened packages for the quickest and safest arrival. If sending battery-operated gadgets (for example, flash lights or games), remove the batteries prior to shipping, so that the batteries do not corrode in the item.
- Use sturdy cardboard boxes to ship your items. Avoid using recycled boxes that may be damaged, torn, or punctured. Use clear packing tape to seal all openings of the box. Avoid masking tape, scotch tape or duct tape to seal closures.
- For addresses and labels use large, block print – use a dark permanent magic marker to write with if possible. Cover the address with clear packing tape to avoid smearing or illegible addresses in case of contact with moisture or water.
- On the address label, include the full name of the person you are sending mail to (with or without rank designation), the unit address, the APO (Army Post Office) address, the nine-digit zip code and a return address.
- Keep package sizes small (under 5 pounds in weight). Larger packages take a longer time to be delivered and are hard to carry around.
- Packages are taking between 21-28 days to arrive and even longer during major US holidays. See the Army News Service’s article “Deadlines near for sending troops holiday packages” for specific dates of when to send packages and cards http://www4.army.mil/ocpa/read.php?story_id_key=6566
- Approximate number of days for packages and letters to arrive overseas: Parcel Post – 45 days Space Available mail – 28 days Parcel Airlift mail – 21 days Priority mail – 14 days 1st class card/letters – 14 days
- The United States Postal Service will send free boxes,
packing materials, tape and mailing labels for care
packages to be sent to military family members deployed
to Iraq. Call 1-800-610-8734 and press one for English
or two for Spanish, then press three to reach an
operator.
Shopping Tips:
- When selecting food items to send, remember that in some locations the heat is intense. For example, gum can stick to the foil wrapper in hot weather.
- Small packages of individual wrapped snacks are portable and stay fresher longer.
- Can openers can be hard to come by – choose flip-top
lids on canned products when possible.
Examples of items to ship in care packages
Toiletries and Personal Care Items:
- baby wipes/cleansing clothes
- toothpaste/toothbrushes
- shampoo, deodorant, lotion
- soap, antibacterial soap
- liquid body wash, hand sanitizer
- eyeglass wipes, eyeglass case
- sunblock, aloe vera
- throat lozenges, cough drops
- lip balm
- aspirin, pain relievers
- feminine hygiene products for military women
- jock itch spray, foot powder
- antifungal/athlete’s foot products
Food and Drink Items:
- coffee, tea, hot cocoa mix, pre-sweetened drink mixes, Gatorade powder
- hard candy, cookies, homemade cookies, candy bars, gum, mints
- nuts, trail mix, small bags of snacks of individually wrapped snacks - peanuts, trail mix, power bars, protein bars, nutritional bars, breakfast bars, pop tarts, granola bars
- chips or crackers
- peanut butter
Fun stuff:
- frisbee, nerf football, hacky sack
- decks of cards, hand-held games
- music cds, video game cds for laptop computers
Communication Items:
- envelopes, small pads of paper
- pre-addressed labels and/or envelopes notebooks (a size they can keep in a pocket and keep dry)
- single-use camera
Notes:
Mailing Restrictions: each country and even each mailing
zip code within those countries have different
restrictions for what is allowed to be mailed to that
country.
University of Missouri Extension does not endorse specific brands of products, vendors, or manufacturers.
References
Field, S., November 15, 2004. Deadlines near for sending
troops holiday packages, Army Public Affairs - Army News
Service, web article
http://www4.army.mil/ocpa/read.php?story_id_key=6566
Marine Parents website
www.MarineParents.com
Military Postal Service website
http://hqdainet.army.mil/mpsa/
United Stated Postal Service website www.usps.com
 |
Site Administrator: |
|
|
|
Last update: Friday, November 21, 2008
