How much does it cost? Can I send homemade baked goods w/o them getting thrown away? Is there a website that lists the soldier's interests (so the first letter doesn't seem so damn impersonal)? Anything I haven't thought of yet?
2006-11-03 16:13:43 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Military
First
Thank you for doing this!!!! We currently sponsor 5 groups of soldiers across afghanistan and Iraq.
www.anysoldier.com
its the best site we found for being able to search and read descriptions etc.. covers ALL branches of soldier overseas
Now for mailing.. we are pro;s at this now
No mailing of wax items, crayons or chocolate anything between May and Nov
It melts and you get liquid pacakges
Soldiers are told not to eat homebaked or unwrapped items.. so if you send these you take a good chance on having them not eaten.
Our groups are 1/2 way through deployment and we know them now and will be seing homemade xmas foods... but they will take now and would not have 6 mos ago before they knew us.
Most soldiers have some way to email.. some have laptops with daily access others dont have reg access... Include and email address with your packages,, many will email back..
We love our emails and pictures
Do not send stamps as mail for them is free to send out
DVD's unless a soldier specifically asks for it are a waste of time as they sell bootleg copies over there for 1.00 new releases! The Black market is alive and well in Iraq!
Each soldier will put items out on the site they would like etc... We avoid the long lists or lists with silly items.... The bottom line is... they are thrilled with just letters , and many dont get mail.
We look for FOB's Forward operating bases or other more remote soldiers over ones on reg bases... these are the guys who dont have access to PX's ( stores) etc...
MOST have chow halls called KBR's but some dont...
Things we send to our guys are Microwaves stuff anf popcorn.. we also tape to DVD weekly shows they are missing like CSI and NCIS they like those.. we send Hard candy , does nto melt and can be passed out to local kids..
we send Pnut butter, crackers, Powdered drink mixes like gatorade, T pastes, soaps,Jerky,
Chex mix, Pringles as they dont get crushed like a bag would, etc...Cookies
OK so for mailing..... Dont mix food and toiletries.... even if you put stuff in baggies the food will taste like soap
We have mailed t paste with food though put it in ziplocs
Dont mail anything in a glass jar or that can break.... If it can leak, explode or break... IT WILL
So how much does it cost to mail???????
Well you dont pay shippin to Iraq!
You pay shipping costs from where ever you live to NY. In NY it is handed off to the Military Postal system and they fly it overseas,, then it is sorted again by the APO or location and trtucked off to those places as soon as they can safely get it there.
Our experience is ... about 3 weeks til arrival ..
There are 2 types of ways to mail a package at the post office.. Priority and SAM ( space Avail Mail) SAM is cheaper but can take longer to get to the soldiers.. SAM means once the plane is full and all 1st priority mail is loaded they shove any SAM mail in that will fit ...
The Post office will tell you it will never get to the soldier if you send SAM but thats not true...
SAM mail is cheaper to send and good if its heavy or you can wait for it to go... it will get to th em.. we have sent both ways... and sincec most of our guys only get mail runs every 2-3 weeks it did not matter.
When you pack it ,,make sure you put stuff on the slip..if for soe reason you DO send DVD's DONT list it on the packing slip.. makes your box a target to get stolen! If you ask post ofice about this they will say you HAVE to list it... so dont ask.. they dont go through the boxes and if you list it it may not get there... this is advice right from the soldiers.. they know.
ALso there will be a box that says if package is undeliverable what do yu want done?? Instead of putting our return in there to get it back.. we put another Units Address on there so if hte unit we were sending to is gone or cant be found it goes to another one!
ALso pack your items in plain cardboard or a postal box.. there are rules as to how much writing can be on outside of box...
Finally.....
Get your packages ready and RIGHT before you mail them check the site and go to your soldiers listing ,, you can do a search by last name to find them fast.. and Make sure there is not a " Address has changed" on your page... if there is get the new address...
Mostly they keep the same ones but the units that are on the move.. can change...
Its great you are doing this...
Good Luck
Post again if you want more info or have questions.. I look in here about 1 time per day
Take care
Wismom
2006-11-03 19:32:11 · answer #1 · answered by Wismom 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It doesn't cost very much..if you go through mail. You can get flat rate boxes which you can fill up with as much stuff as you can and it will still cost one price. Otherwise, cost will depend on the weight of the box. It can take a couple weeks to get there so just think about what your sending and if it will be good after that long and making it in the heat.
2006-11-03 16:54:15 · answer #2 · answered by mnmommy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The United States armed forces cannot recieve cards to "any serviceman" this year due to fears of terrorism. Instead, the Pentagon has set up a secure email system that allows anyone to send a message to "any serviceman." Just pick the branch of the service, type your message and click send.
The story behind the "to any serviceman" cards:
Since 1967, when Sgt. Billy Thompson wrote Abigail Van Buren and mentioned that a wonderful Christmas present to our armed forces would be "just a letter from home," American citizens have been sending holiday wishes to servicemen and women stationed overseas every holiday season. Dubbed "Operation Dear Abby," the program has brought holiday joy to hundreds of thousands of U.S. military personnel deployed away from home.
To access the site, visit http://anyservicemember.navy.mil/
Military Exchange Prepaid Calling Cards
The Department of Defense Military Exchanges have been authorized to sell the following prepaid calling cards to individuals and organizations who wish to purchase these cards for our troops serving overseas in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
https://thor.milexch.com/scs/default.aspx
12 Ways to Support Our Troops
By Lance Helgeson
http://www.aarp.org/bulletin/yourlife/Articles/a2004-12-07-12support.html
You can adopt a specific or random service person for a prayer circle.
http://www.presidentialprayerteam.net/troopsadopt.php
You can write to a service person.
http://anyservicemember.navy.mil
There are dozen of organizations, which allow you to purchase items and present it to a service person, but there are other options you might consider. Visit the closest VA Hospital or for something really unique try:
www.snipersonline.org (They ask for contributions to buy items that the Government refuses or that is out of stock.
God Bless You and The Southern People
2006-11-04 06:48:53 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know on the anysoldier.com website they have all the branches on there. On there they post what they need and what not to send, because of weather conditions.
It is updated daily and you can search a person by name or branch. I find it really cool, but I have not sent a package just yet.
People send snack items, clothing, personal items, cd's etc and even letters. So take a look.
GOOD LUCK
2006-11-03 16:24:55 · answer #4 · answered by Toya 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you have any friends who are military I am sure they know someone who is deployed at this time. Get with them to get an address and make cookies for them and their buddies.
2016-05-21 22:21:03 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋