Care Package Ideas!

I have used the 1-800-610-8734 several times and ordered boxes. Sometimes it does take up to 3 weeks to receive them. Each time I mail them, no matter how much I put in them it has been a flat rate of 17.40 each time. 

Really Proud Mama, I have always paid a different amount each time, they charge me by the weight everytime. That is so strange...... Thank You for sharing.

I finally received my "Military Pack" in the mail.  I really doubt that I will save the $2.00 per package that they said I would receive since the box says nothing about Military.  Oh well, it saves me some time I guess.

Bandmom, not about the having the “America Supports You” slogan on it.  It is the fact that it’s the identical USPS Priority 12”x12”x6” box being mailed to an FPO address that qualifies it for the discounted flat rate.  

Phoenixmom,

It's the Flat Rate boxes that save you money. And they can weigh as much as fits in the box. 

Yvonne

Hi I’m new to this group always looking for ideas and how to send packages.. right he is stationed in San Diego, however my son is out to sea for training so no address yet.... 

Alison, his address will be the address of his ship.

Hi bandmom but right now he is not on the assigned ship because his is in yards, so now they put him on USS boxer for qualifications for a month.. so would I be able to mail a letter or cards? 

Alison, My son has not been on the ship since March.  He has been attending additional schooling in San Diego.  His address is still the ship address.  

Hi Bandmom thank you for clarifying that for me.. 

Alison, No Problem.  Just remember it will still take a while for him to get mail.  I don't know why, it just does.

My Sailors birthday is October 25.  He will be deployed at that time.  I am thinking of sending him Chocolate Chip cookies.  I have always put them in double ziploc bags, and placed them in popcorn, so they don't get broken up.  Do you think that will work for a ship?

Bandmom,

What I usually do when sending care packages to the sailors who come over to the house when they are deployed is individually wrap each cookie in seran wrap and then put them in a plastic container so they won't get crushed.

Whatever you do don't ever send fudge or anything chocolate (except chocolate chip cookies)...it melts. :)

This is what I do sometimes for birthdays...I make peanut brittle in the microwave, put it in a cake pan to harden,make a hole in the middle (candle size) and that is their 'cake'. Then I send a movie(I like the funny ones like The Little Rascals (for example)...something to make them laugh..and movie candy.  Balloons, the little games you can get at the Dollar Tree, a candle of course, and whatever else they like. That way they can celebrate with some of their close buddies. . Your pkg. may take a month to get to him depending where he's at. But I'm sure he will be excited to get it no matter when it gets to him. Have fun! :)

Yvonne

Thank you John and Yvonne!!  His ship actually deploys towards the end of the month.   I am hoping he gets it before then.

Great Bandmom! I know he'll enjoy all the goodies you are sending! :)

Yvonne

Are Sailors allowed to have battery operated Christmas lights while deployed on a ship?

chris_mom_1995,  Thank you so much.  When my son was in college he had 1000 Christmas lights in his dorm room.  He will appreciate a small strand of lights!

New phase—-more questions.   Sailor now at A school    Can someone tell me —-best to send items to them UPS OR USPS insured???

NAVymomk. I always send every thing USMail.   I am not sure UPS can get on base.

Band mom—-Thanks!!!!   Are there any restrictions or just needs to be insured???   Which A school do you send to???   

My son was at Great Lakes.  He graduated last year.  I basically sent things he asked for and of course baked goods.  He will know what he can and can't have after he is assigned to his ship.  Each one is different.  What is your son's rate?

NAVYMOMK,  Most sailors are not allowed to have anything sitting out during the day.  Everything that my son had had to be put away and locked up everyday.  He had a few civilian clothes (which he couldn't wear right away, his cell phone, and that was about it.  I mostly sent treats.  Those they all loved.

BandMom----  Thanks for the info!!!   My son is enjoying his own underwear and razor and let me know today he used the Subway card I had sent with him    I know we cant send much but it makes me feel better to able to send goodies, snacks, and gift cards so that he can eat some of his favorites from time to time.      I also sent you a friend request  Its soooo good to be able to send them things now   Quite a change from BC  

NAVYMOMK, did you know that there is also a McDonalds on base?  Those cards are appreciated as well.  I know my sailor went for the coffee drinks.  LOL

BandMom--- All bases have a McDonalds???  He told me there was a Panda Express which he also likes so I can send cards for that as well

I know that Great Lakes, Norfolk, and San Diego have McDonalds.  I think that most of them do.  Which base is your son on?  What is he going to school for?

I just sent a case of Girl Scout Cookies!

Hello Natasha

Hey lovely ladies! I wanted to pass on something I discovered while preparing for my son's PIR and I found it really neat! It's a company that specializes in mini or trial sized items, but the super cool thing is, they have Military premade care packages, little kits for hygiene to snacks, drinks to otc meds and everything inbetween, you should check it out! It's called Minimus.biz the shipping was pretty quick too!

When sending packages use wrapped hard candy as filler - Ross says that it's great to share and less waste to deal with.

When sending homemade treats, I use my seal a meal and make 2-3 packages of a dozen for sharing and several packages of one or two for Ross to put aside for later.

NavyProudInWashington,  I use popcorn for packing material.  It works great to put the sealed cookies into the popcorn.  I sent some of his favorite popcorn salt.  sealed it and they loved the Popcorn!

To any moms out there looking at this group, here are a few pointers.  Look up above and get the flat rate military kit that is listed.  It works great for sending packages while our sailors are deployed.  Also remember chocolate melts!  if you sent things like homemade fudge, they will be eating it with a spoon!  if you do sent bars to a warm region, my sailor told me that tupperware leaves a plastic taste on the goodies.  Cheap ziploc containers work better.  I packed my cookies, bars etc. in ziploc bags, then surrounded them with popped popcorn.  The cookies were mostly in tact, and they ate the popcorn.  I included a bottle of his favorite popcorn seasoning as well.  Another thing that worked well was hard candies.   My son's ship had a bucket that the sailors put their had candies in, and they all shared.  God bless all deployed at this time.

Thank you BandMom getting my Packages ready to send!

Leighana here is what I have

USPS Military mailing guide website

PDF]military mail guide - Stamps.com Military & Diplomatic Mail | USPS Edit 

Hello Leighana,  In the paragraphs up above, the one from Marcy_corpsman mom has all the info in it.  They work great.

1-800-610-8734.  Ask for Military Kit.

Now that Valentines is over, and Easter is coming, let me give some pointers.  My son who came off of deployment last year wanted me to pass this on.  Remember when your sailor is deployed, it can take 2 weeks to a month for them to receive their mail.  If they are some place warm, Chocolate melts.  I packed my homemade goodies in Ziploc Baggies, then placed them in popped popcorn.  I added a jar of his favorite seasoning in the first box.  He loved it!  Another item that was a hit on the ship was Hard Candy.  If you sailor has a local favorite, send a large amount.  They love to share.  My sons ship had a metal bucket that they all put their hard candy in.  They enjoyed trying different kinds.  Of Course Jolly Ranchers are always a big hit.  Peanuts, Jerkey , Sausage sticks, Licorice, anything that doesn't melt.  He also said that food that was packed in plastic containers (like Tupperware) ga a plastic like taste,  I also sent some cookies once in a round pringles container.  They stacked really nicely in there, but they were not a fresh.

For all you new moms, I hope this helps.  God Bless you and your sailor.

Even though my son is not currently deployed, with all the current lockdowns and self Quarantines, I am starting to send care packages.   hopefully they will brighten his day a little.  Duty and home that is his life right now.

I'm with you on this Idea BandMom Thank You for sharing!

When can you start sending care packages ?

6kidsncryy - as soon as you know their mailing address in A school or what ever location that are at.  You should also ensure what shipping method is for their location.  Some places for food that isn't allowed and some places it has to be in plastic containers.  You should ask them what types of things are and aren't allowed.  

Dana - thank you so much. so overwhelmed. My son arrived a ROM on 8/26 so in quarantine for 2 weeks. Not even in BC yet. LOL!! Just didn't want to miss my opportunity to send him something. Thanks again.

6kidsncryy - You can start getting ideas so after he does graduate from BC you can send him stuff.  Remember to send lots and lots of letters to him at BC because they can't get care packages there.