Care Packages Tips and Tricks
These tips are for shipping both here in the states and for overseas. Shipping overseas has a few more steps needed especially if you are shipping to Iraq or Afghanistan. I know this looks really long but it is all stuff to get your package where its going in the fastest time and in the best shape! So here goes...
The best way to ship any care package is through US Postal priority service. Yes it may cost you a little more but it gets your package in to the hands of the military postal service faster. Also if you use them you are able to use their packing materials to package them. These you can get for free at you local post office (PO) or online at the USPS Website!
I recommend using their boxes, they are the perfect size for sending packages. The following is just a list of a few of the options:
If shipping overseas, pack your items well! Just think of how many hands are going to be on this package and wrap and stuff in it well. A soldier said "pack it as if it will be handled by elephants"! So to do that make sure you Ziploc bag anything that might break. If something is much heavier than other things in the box, tape it well to a side or the bottom. Get bubble wrap or air bags to fill up extra space or use your local newspaper and give him something else to read!
Lining the inside of the box with a heavy duty trash bag is also good protection against sand and moisture. Use good packing tape to seal your box well. Run the tape along all corners and edges of the box.
You will need a customs form filled out for each package you send overseas. You can get them at your PO or on the USPS website listed above, in the forms area. I would recommend that the first time you do one you do it at the post office so they can tell you how they like them done, since every PO varies a little. There are restrictions on what can be sent to different FPO/APO's so please check out what can be sent before you start sending! The main restrictions for current Iraq/Afghanistan deployment are: PORK, ALCOHOL & PORNOGRAPHY. Do not send these or you risk having your whole package confiscated!