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Thoughts from overseas
Support deployed troops by sending a care package By Leigh Ann Foskey, Jayplay writer
Photo by John Tran
Soldiers overseas miss their family, friends and the occasional Snickers Bar. What better way to lift their spirits than to send a care package? The U.S. Census Bureau reports that as of Dec. 31 more than 1.4 million service men and women are on active duty. The KU Office of Veterans Services estimates there are 113 student reservists and 16 students overseas, but the information can be hard to track because many students don't report that they are being deployed.
Capt. Rob Leicht, recruiting operations officer for the University of Kansas Army ROTC, was in Afghanistan for nine months and then in Iraq for eight months. He says that receiving anything is a welcomed opportunity. "Mail call can be the highlight of the day for any deployed service member. Even something as small as a crayon drawing from a 2 year old can bring joy to deployed service members."
Even if you don't know a troop overseas, you can still adopt one. For security reasons, the Department of Defense no longer allows items addressed to "any soldier," but organizations like operationmilitarysupport.com, treatsfortroops.com and operationshoe-box.com can help you find a soldier. On the treatsfortroops.com and operationshoe-box.com Web sites you can even prepare a care package. The organizations supply
you with a name, address and a list of interests for each soldier, so you can personalize your gift. On those Web sites you can choose from pre-made gift sets or you can select individual items to be placed in your box. Or, you can always choose to do it the old-fashioned way.
Although it is always best to pack your soldier's favorite items, operationshoe-box.com keeps a list of the most requested goodies. Twizzlers, board games and magazines are always popular, but don't forget to include things they actually need like sunscreen, toothpaste and new socks. Be creative and send things your soldier can appreciate, just don't forget the follow the rules. Because packages are sent to countries with different customs, the U.S. Postal Service has set up a Web site that lists what you shouldn't send to each country. Sorry guys, no nudie playing cards or pork rinds allowed. If you are sending a package to someone in a desert region, remember that it's hot, about 100 degrees, so chocolate is probably not such a good idea. If you do send something that might melt or leak its smart to place the item in a Ziploc bag. Leicht says that service members can reuse the bags for many things, like storing wallets and photographs.
Once you have chosen all of your goodies, pick a box that is large enough to hold
all of the items with room for cushioning. Because larger packages take longer to send, Leicht suggests that you keep your packages small, about the size of a shoe-box. If you are sending the box through Priority Mail, the Postal Service requires that your package be no more than 70 pounds and that the length plus girth be no greater than 130 inches. Girth is the width of your package multiplied by two, plus the height multiplied by two, plus the length. You can fill the space with bubble wrap or packing peanuts from a post office or craft store, but a better (and cheaper) idea is to use a local newspaper, that way your soldier can keep up with what's going on at home. The Postal Service also suggests throwing in a card listing the box's contents. Remember to seal the box tightly; taping all seams twice. Clearly label the box with a return address and Army Postal Code (APO) or Fleet Postal Code (FPO). The Postal Service can give you the nine-digit codes to ensure your package gets to where it's going. You can even throw in a stamped and addressed envelope so your serviceman can let you know he received the package.
Care packages are a fun way to show your support, but if you don't have the time or funds, just write a letter. Whatever you send it's sure to bring a smile to a soldier's face.
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Jayplay 02.24.05