Holiday Care Packages for Military Sailors/Troops

Holiday Care Package Mailing Deadlines and More Care Package Tips!

*NOTE: THIS IS NOT ONE OF OUR CARE PACKAGES...JUST AN IDEA*

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Every year the USPS announces the dates for which packages being mailed overseas to military must be sent out. These dates are for the 2011 Holiday Season.

You can read details here:

https://www.usps.com/shippingdates/welcome.htm

Holiday Dates for Military Mail

Calculated for December 25, 2011.

Military Mail Addressed To:	Express Mail Military Service (EMMS)1	First-Class (Letters Cards)	Priority  Mail	Parcel Airlift Mail  (PAL) 2	Space Available Mail (SAM)3	Parcel Post
APO/FPO-AE ZIP's 090-092	Dec-17	Dec-10	Dec-10	Dec-3	Nov-26	Nov-12
APO/FPO-AE  ZIP 093	N/A	Dec-3	Dec-3	Dec-1	Nov-26	Nov-12
APO/FPO-AE ZIP's 094-098	Dec-17	Dec-10	Dec-10	Dec-3	Nov-26	Nov-12
APO/FPO-AA ZIP 340	Dec-17	Dec-10	Dec-10	Dec-3	Nov-26	Nov-12
APO/FPO-AP ZIP's 962-966	Dec-17	Dec-10	Dec-10	Dec-3	Nov-26	Nov-12

Care Packages Tips for New Comers

1 EMMS -is available to selected military/diplomatic Post Offices™. Check with your local Post Office to determine if this service is available to an APO/FPO/DPO address.
2 PAL -is a service that provides air transportation for parcels on a space-available basis. It is available for Parcel Post items not exceeding 30 lbs in weight or 60" in length and girth combined. The applicable PAL fee must be paid in addition to the regular surface price for each addressed piece sent by PAL service.
3 SAM -parcels are paid at Parcel Post prices with maximum weight and size limits of 15 lbs and 60" in length and girth combined. SAM parcels are first transported domestically by surface and then to overseas destinations by air on a space-available basis.
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One more tip that I always forget to mention is to fill out customs form beforehand, believe it or not I have seen people wait until they get to the Post Office to do that. SAVE YOURSELF THE TIME!! Do it beforehand so that you have time to make sure everything is filled out correctly and you don’t feel rushed.

Great Snack Ideas:

***Please note! Individually wrapped food and snack items are preferred because they are easier to take out during work-up's, missions, or while on a Port Visit! Also, note that while these are GREAT starters....please keep in mind your hubby's personal 'YUMMY FAVORITES***

Beef Jerky

Popcorn

Twizzlers

Hard Candy and Gum

Fruit Snacks (fruit roll ups, gushers, dried fruit, Welch’s fruit snacks)

Cookies (individual snack sized packs)

Nuts and Trail mix (Small individual bags)

Granola Bars, Pop Tarts, Protein Bars

Oatmeal, Cream of wheat, Instant soup mix

Chips (Individual snack sized bags)

Crackers (Snack sized packs)
Campbells -Soup at Hand or Chunky Bowls

Vienna Sausages

Tuna or Chicken lunch kits (in foil packets)

Great Drink Ideas:

Gatorade Mix (individual water bottle packets)

Crystal Light Mix (individual water bottle packets)

Kool-Aid (individual water bottle packets)
MIO -You just squirt it into a water bottle

Coffee (powdered mix)

Hot Cocoa (powdered mix)

Tea Bags

Protein drinks (powdered mix)

Entertainment Goodies:

Deck of Cards

Sudoku Books

Uno Cards

Crossword Puzzle Books

Frisbees

Yo Yo’s

Rubik’s Cubes

Nerf footballs/basketball nets with sucktion cup backing

Hacky Sacks

Tennis Balls

Help your service member keep in touch with you!

 These are items you should also consider including in your package for communication purposes!

Pre- Addressed Envelopes

Letter Paper

Stamps (if they have no where to buy any or postage paid rules do not apply)

Notebooks

Note pads

Pens

Stickers (should they write any letters to your children...little girls REALLY love getting 'love letters' with stickers from their Daddy!)

Be Encouraged!