INTRODUCTION
We
decided to create this little booklet to help with information we have
leaned since we
began sending Care Packages to Military Troops overseas in 2004 when Mike
Boone
was expressing his concerns about his daughter, Michelle, having to go
to Iraq for the war.
We told him to give us her information and we’d be sure to take
good care of her.
So she went to Iraq and Tom and I began sending cards and letters to Michelle
and this project continues until there is no longer a need.
Chapter 1 –
What Can’t I Send ?
What you send depends
on several things….
1.
Cannot send pork (Treet, Vienna Sausages). It’s against their religion
in Iraq.
2.
Nothing can be sent that is a large container, such as a 16 oz shampoo,
24 ounce Ketchup, etc.).
They need to be the smaller sizes.
3.
Bars of soap – the water / showers are very limited. Please
only send liquid soap.
4.
No pornography – remember Hot Rod magazines and Sports Illustrated
Swimsuit issues
are considered porn – women in bikinis.
5.
VHS – VHS systems are not very readily available. Please send DVDs
or CDs.
This is a wonderful gift of a video of the family and
what’s going on back home.
6.
Toothbrushes and toothpaste - this is one of the most often items sent.
They get more than they ever need. Only send them if
they are requested.
7.
Disposable razors – the air is very dry and these razors cut them
up.
Please send the multiple blade razors so they are smoother
and less harmful to their dry skin.
8.
Sun block – they wear their daily uniforms and they are ALL long
sleeves so sun block is not needed.
9.
Keep in mind they have down time with not much to do.
Puzzles, hand held computer games, paper and pencils,
and cards are great to pass this rare down time.
Chapter 2 – Then what
can I send ?
1. Mail –
cards, letters, care packages – anything to hear their name called
at mail call.
This is quite important to them. If you send care packages,
they usually share or trade items.
It is of utmost importance that they get mail.
a.
Some of them are not letter writers or e-mail senders. Don’t be
surprised if they don’t correspond often.
2.
Phone cards – be sure they are international cards that they can
use to call you.
You can purchase them at many stores such as Kroger,
Wal-Mart, etc.
Be sure they are with a phone company name you recognize.
3.
National or local newspapers are great to send. They enjoy reading news
from home.
For the big
list of things to send:
Care Package Items for Military
in Iraq.
One thing to keep
in mind….please don’t clean out your kitchen cabinets to send
to them or buy the very cheap stuff.
If you wouldn’t use it, don’t send it. Also
watch expiration dates.
· Antiperspirant
· AT&T Phone cards (200 minute phone card equals 10 minutes
international call – Iraq)
· Beef jerky
· Body Wash (liquid - limited water available – hard soap
“bars” need more water)
· Books
· Breakfast Bars
· Canned Cheese, Fruit, Snacks
· Chewing gum
· Conditioner
· Cough drops
· Dental floss
· Disposable cameras
· Dried fruits
· DVDs and music CDs (new or used)
· Feminine products
· Foot powder
· Games (board games, cards)
· Granola Mix
· Hard candy
· Holiday decorations
· Hot Cereal
· Kleenex
· M&M’s (M&M’s melt in your mouth, not in your
hands)
Chocolate items melt and can harden again and they have a
"strange" flavor" except the M&M's.
· Magazines
· Microwave meals
· Nuts
· Plastic Utensils (they get cups, plates, etc. but need forks,
spoons, and knives)
· Pop Tarts
· Popsicles (in plastic such as Freezer Pops, Freezer Ice)
· Powdered drink mix
· Q-Tips
· Ramen Noodles
· Razors (Schick Quatro, etc.) – not disposables.
· School supplies (for the Iraqi children)
· Shampoo
· Skyline/Goldstar chili (hometown food)
· Socks
· Soup
· Stationery/note cards/writing material
· Summer sausage/crackers
· Toilet paper
· Trail mix
· Word Puzzles
Items they don’t need
so much are:
· Chap stick
(They get a lot of this)
· Sunblock (They get a lot of this and they almost
always wear long sleeves)
· Toothpaste
· Toothbrush
· Disposable razors
Chapter 3 – Sending
Mail
· They are
able to send you letters at no postage cost.
You will pay postage to send letters and packages to them.
· Packages will cost them money.
The military overseas will be required to pay for the postage
to send something to you.
Many things will remain behind for the next unit’s arrival
and use.
Chapter 4 –
What do you write about ?
·
This was one of the very hardest things to do.
What do you say to a perfect stranger ?
You can’t send them 20 letters saying, “thanks for
all you do to keep us free and safe.”
· You can “talk” to them about what’s going on
in the United States, sports, weather, etc.
· Just tell them about you.
It makes you a friend, no longer a stranger sending letters and
care packages.
This is entirely up to you and your comfort level.
Chapter 5 – Mailing
in a Nutshell
Tips
for the U.S. Postages……….
· Go to your local post office as ask for the forms and boxes you’ll
need:
o Customs Declaration for CP72 (2976-A)
o Priority Mail label 228
o Flat rate boxes FRB1 (medium), FRB2 (medium), and Large Flat Rate Box.
· These boxes are available free ! ! !
You can order them online at USPS.gov or you can just ask for few
boxes at your post office.
· When you use the FRB boxes, custom forms, and labels, your package
overseas will cost $10.35 –
no matter where it goes (APO or FPO box) no matter how much
they weigh.
This will be a huge savings to you. If you use the larger
FRB size, it is $11.95 each.
· You cannot have these boxes picked up at your work or home due
to the custom forms and Post Office work associated with it.
· Take your
boxes to the Post Office for mailing and it takes approximately 2 weeks
for the military to receive your package.
Remember you may never receive a thank you letter, e-mail,
or such but it is appreciated.
You will be asked to stop sending care packages about two
months before they leave to end their deployment and come home.
That’s just the military.
Chapter
6 – What happens when they come home ?
· Some units
have welcome home parties and celebrations.
· Gold Star Chili has a “Welcome Home” for all returning
military and a few of their family.
Contact your local Gold Star for additional information and
to be sure this is still correct information.
· We have a “Meet and Greet” luncheon in the beginning
months of each year to get an opportunity to meet
our military families and their families.
It’s just Tom and I eating lunch and setting it up for
the honor and privilege to meet everyone else.
If you would like to stop by to introduce yourself,
please let us know so I can make reservations
for enough people to sit together.
Please note: we are only planning to pay for our lunch and, unfortunately,
can’t pay for everyone’s.
In 2010 we will be having our 3rd Annual Meet and Greet and we
are planning to have one in the Cincinnati area and
one in the Indianapolis area.
· There are several Veterans Day Parades all over the tri-state.
Batavia always has its Parade on November 11
If it's a weekday, the parade is at 7PM
If it is a weekend, the parade is 2PM
· The Golden Coral in Eastgate has an annual Thank You for Military
every year on the Monday after Veterans' Day from 5P to 9P. Every
Military member is admitted free and their guests must pay for their meal.
How generous to honor military !
Please check to be sure this is still an annual event at
www.goldencorral.net/military/
Need additional
help or have questions now that you're home ?
American Legion, National Headquarters Internal Affairs, P. O. Box 1055,
Indianapolis, IN 46206; Helpline 1-800-433-3318 www.legion.org
· Veterans of Foreign Wars, National Headquarters, 406 W. 34th
Street, Kansas City, MO 64111, (816) 756-3390; fax (816) 968-1199;
or Washington Office, 200 Marilyn Avenue, N.E., Washington, DC 20002;
Helpline 1-800-PGW-VETS; Local office 1-800-827-1100; www1.va.gov/environagents
· Department of Defense (DOD) 1-800-796-9699; www.gulflink.osd.mil
· Military Order of the Purple Heart, Headquarters, 5413-B Backlick
Road; Springfield, VA 22151-3960; 1-888-668-1656
· Clermont County Veterans Service Commission, 76 5 Riverside Drive,
Batavia, OH 45103 (513) 732-7363
· Vietnam Veterans Association - Chapter 649 - Meetings are the
2nd Thursday of every month at 7:30PM. http://www.vva649.org/index.html
· "Whole in My Heart" Military Support Group - Meetings
are the 1st Thursday of every month at 7:00PM.
· I have also collected many brochures that might be of help to
you. Please contact me if you still need help.
If
you have any questions, please contact us at ambassador@fuse.net
Our
website is http://www.tgpatt.com/
Our sincere appreciation and thanks to our webmaster Wayne Gregory from
VVA Chapter 649.
He can be reached for website design at mgregory2@cinci.rr.com
Thank
you to all of our brave military heroes who keep us free and safe.
Gina
& Tom Patt
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