Ground Report

Remember in the past the care packages we put together to send to our troops when they were at war? We are still doing that, but just not for the soldiers that we personally know. I have sent two soldiers boxes in the past year and it is so gratifying to assemble the items in these boxes. The care boxes are so appreciated by our troops. I received a thank-you email as well! Here are some tips to get you started.

I pick up items at the dollar store, wal-mart, drugstores, garage sales, flea markets, and use freebie sites such as: http://www.freestufftimes.com/ to collect items throughout the year.

At this site you can click on the “Where to Send” tab and you will see emails including photos from the soldiers on how things are going and the items that they can use. http://www.anysoldier.com/ I usually pick the soldiers that need the items that I already have on hand … and pick one that has not had a lot of requests for their address. The "anysoldier.com" site will send the names and address of two soldiers per day.

The guys and gals over there live by the barter system.  Once a package comes in, if there is something in it they want, they trade things with each other.  Do not take the original packaging off any food items sent overseas. The soldiers are told not to eat anything homemade or not in commercial packaging. This is for their safety.

The Post Office will send/deliver to you several sizes of boxes and tape. Call 1-800-610-8734, press number 1, press number 1, a live agent will come on and you tell them you would like CAREKIT04. They give you a customer number so that you can use it in the future as well. These boxes are sent with the flat rate. You can also put your items in a box of your choice.

 * Indicates items in high demand