How much does it cost to send a care package to Iraq?

Question

Also, do our troops usually get them?

Answer 1

It depends on how big the package is and how much it weighs. And yes, they get them, and they appreciate them!

Answer 2

Mailing care packages to the troops is not as expensive as you might think if you've never done it before.

First, you can go to the post office and ask for a care package kit. The postal service has kits containing boxes and packing tape that are free if you use them to send care packages to troops overseas.

Also, if you want or need different sizes of boxes, you can go to the US Postal Service's website and order Priority Mail boxes - they are sent to your home for free. I usually get the smaller size rectangular ones because they are perfect for mailing and smaller boxes tend to get there faster, as the boxes are often shipped "space available". The average cost of shipping a priority mail flat rate box is about $4.

When you address your box, you should never put the country below the address - In other words, your address needs to end with APO AE and then the number. Do not put IRAQ underneath because that causes confusion for the postal service and they may attempt to charge you for international shipping!

Shipping cost is the same as sending a package within the continental United States. Basically the way shipping works is that the box is sent from your post office to a military mail facility stateside, and from there on the military handles the rest of the transport - usually mail is shipped on military aircraft or charter flights, and once in theater it's distributed by the military.

It's unnecessary to use Express Mail, Overnight, etc. because that will not get your package overseas any faster. Again, the postal service only ships the box inside the US. So paying extra for any fast shipping will only get it to the stateside military facility faster, not overseas faster.

And yes, our troops usually receive packages that are sent. Sometimes the service is slow and sometimes items get lost just like with the regular mail. But generally the packages make it to the troops.

Answer 3

The cost for mailing packages is the same as if you mailed them to someone in the states. Don't send perishables or breakables. Just like here in the states, sometimes mail gets misrouted. After 20 years in the Navy and being deployed for 12 months to Viet Nam, 13 months to Antarctica, 12 months to the Middle East, 6 months to the Indian Ocean and 6 months to the Mediterranean, I have never not received a package that my family has sent. When I was in Viet Nam, my 'adopted' grandma asked her neighbor to mail a fruitcake. Instead of sending it PAL, it came parcel post and had mold all over it. Being hardy sailors, we cut the mold off and ate the fruit cake, and shared some with our Vietnamese friends on the base.
(USN/retired)

Answer 4

Do you live near a military base. Call and ask to speak to their Base Personnel in charge of famlies, etc. They can point you to a group that sends packages to the troops.

Also, you can call a local Church Group or Friends, (Quakers) they usually have a group that sends packages

You are not alone and thank you for wanting to help. OFTEN the family needs help more than the member in Iraq.

Answer 5

Troops do love to get mail....any kind, any size box. My husband has deployed twice and getting ready for the 3rd to the sandbox. I have spent as much as $30 for shipping....a big box I just kept filling and filling and filling....but I try to send a smallish box a week. Tips: no porn, no pork, no breakables.

And dont forget your customs form!! Take care!

Answer 6

Again it depends on the size and delivery type. When I was there I had several sent using the USPS $7.95 book rate...not always all books. And once I had a 45lbs package sent DHL 3 day for $300.

Answer 7

i always do flat rate boxes. there are two shapes, one more cube like and the other perfect for magazines. always $8.10 and i recommend doing insurance, which brings it to like $9 something.
i've sent over twenty packages over, between my husband and my brother, and they've never missed a one. i would recommend taping the edges well, my husband has gotten a couple boxes that were messed with around the edges.
make sure if you have small items to put them in ziplock baggies with larger items so they can't be jimmied out of a corner.

Answer 8

It depends on the weight of the package and how you send it. And yes, they get the packages too.

Answer 9

I use flat rate boxes from USPS, they're $8.10 no matter what you stuff into them, as long as they close. I've had letters and packages reach their intended recipient in as little as three days and as much as two weeks. Hit and miss, girly.

Answer 10

$16 from Illinois. Of course it depends on the weight. Yes, they do get them, if of course you have it addressed correctly