Care packages

I'm coming to find that care packages are tricky things.

First of all, you have to get a box. I usually just get the large flat rate box from the post office. Hint: You save $2.00 if you ship the large box to an APO/FPO/DPO address. Of course, you can get the smaller flat rate boxes too. I just like the whole flat rate part of them, that way I can shove it as full as I want to without having to worry about the weight costing me more. While you're at the post office, it's a good idea to get a few customs slips too. You're going to need those to ship overseas. 

Now that the easy part is over, what in the world do you put in the box? 

Obviously you shouldn't send perishable items, alcohol, half-used crap, etc. If they're going to have to refrigerate or microwave it to use it, nix it from the get-go. Alcohol would only get them in trouble and sending half-used crap is just rude. Think about things like the weather. Is it the middle of summer and your package is going to be in an area with high temperatures? It's probably not a good idea to send those chocolate covered cookies then. See image: Yeah, lesson learned the hard way. I also lost a bag of gummie octopus candies to the heat. Keep in mind that whatever you're sending has the potential of not making it to where you intended, especially since you have to list what's contained in the box on the customs form. I've heard a few horror stories about iPads or new shoes getting stolen before they reach their final recipient. Finally and most importantly, try to think about what would you want if you were stuck in BFE.

Things I find myself sending often include the kids drawings, various magazines, jerky, coffee, chips, trail mix, gum and nuts/almonds. I've sent some candy, but I try not to go overboard since I know he's been trying to maintain a pretty healthy lifestyle while there. I've sent things like pepto, icy hot, those heat pads for muscles and fake mustaches. I mostly just try to change it up each time so I'm never sending the exact same things. Of course, I also include things he requests like deodorant, soap, toothbrushes, loufa's, etc. I try to watch out for random things I think would be funny to include, or I think would be useful as I go about life. 

One thing that I take comfort in knowing is that whatever is sent, it's going to get used by somebody. If you send a kind of food or candy they don't like, they'll give it to someone who does. It's not like it's going to go to the trash or anything, so you're still supporting the troops. 

Once you've filled up your box, you need to get that customs form out and get to listing the things you've included. You don't need to list everything on it's own line like it looks, just list it out on one line, like this: chips-1, nuts-2, cards-1, soap-1, magazines-3, etc. I don't even put the weight of each item, I just let the post office put the overall weight in the box at the bottom when I take it in to mail it. Be sure to fill in the address the correct way too. It goes on the customs form a little bit different than how you write it out on the box. And actually, this website is a good reference on how to fill out the customs form: http://www.skipcares.org/228/care-packages/customs-form/  Once completed, don't put the customs form inside the box!!! 

Get your package all taped up with your addresses in the right spots, and take it and that customs form to the post office. If you're lucky, there won't be a line and you get get it mailed off promptly. Bam. Done. 

I've send Dale roughly 10 or so care packages since he's been gone. That amounts to one every 10 days or so. This by no means makes me an expert on what to send and what not to send, but since I get asked a lot I figured this would be a pretty good thing to share. I know that receiving mail is a highlight of his day :)