How To: APO Address and Military Care Packages

As I listened to an irate mother, berate the poor postal worker for not knowing how to fill out an APO address, I realized that there is NOT enough information out there.

Now I know that a lot of you have no use for this, but on the off chance that I can help a few people and maybe inspire a few others to send care packages....I am proud to post this!

I can't even explain how much care packages, or even a letter or card, means to the men and women over seas.  It shows them that they are not forgotten, which is what keeps them going.

Maybe this poem -THAT I WROTE SO DON'T STEAL IT- will give you a little perspective:

I am the deliverer.

You may not think of me as important,

and yet when you see me,

your anticipation builds.

You wonder-

if I am in possession

of the fuel

that keeps you going.

I am not angry that you dismiss me,

nor am I saddened.

All I need is the satisfaction

of your hoots and hollers

as I am escorted into your bay.

I may not be burnished with decoration,

but I'm ushered in like a crown jewel,

cheered on like a valiant knight.

I arrive each evening

bearing solace and companionship,

If only in the form of written word.

I bear this responsibility with honor,

with desire, with bittersweet tenderness.

Bittersweet in that I know

once you have emptied me of my organs

and returned to your bunks with my treasures,

I will be sent away again.

Banished. Empty ‘till tomorrow.

Alas, FEAR NOT!

I will return.

I am at your service

For as long as you serve us...

Sincerely,

Mail Crate

So what is an APO address, you ask?

It is the address that you can use to send letters, cards and care packages to the soldiers fighting for your freedom. NBD.

The problem is- no one needs to know how to do this UNTIL they know someone that is deployed.

Not even postal workers know how to do it!

You can google "how to's", but I never found any that answered all of my questions, which led me to asking every military wife I know for advice.  Bit by bit, I pieced it together.

I am now going to pass along my VALUABLE information.

You can thank me later.

Step #1

Pick up packing materials and labels from the post office or call this number:

1-800-610-8734

Choose English (or whatever)

and Option # 1

Ask for the Military Care Kit.

They will SEND YOU packing materials, labels, and tape for FREE to your door!

Step #2

Fill said boxes with morale boosters for the soldiers.

Candy, trail mix, jerkey, drink mix powders, tea bags, games, puzzles, magazines, etc.

(I bet you, if you looked around your house and pantry- you would find treasures to send)

Step # 3

Tape that sucker up good and tackle the address and Customs forms.

The hardest part IS the Customs form, but here I have made a sample for you!

{If anyone thinks that doesn't look hard, I'll SMACK you.}

Basically, you fill in the address stuff accordingly, and then document what is "in the package".  

The secret to this is to LIE.

I'm not saying you should send illegal stuff, but I'm telling you that if you put what lovely and expensive things you are sending- THEY AREN'T GOING TO MAKE IT.

Total Value: No more than $20. Period.

You will also need this little sticker:

Step # 4

Take the package, the form, and the sticker to the post office and hand it over for them to finalize everything!  They are flat rate boxes, so it only works out to an average of $12 a piece. 

 That's a low price for the joy it brings to the soldiers.

I would LOVE to do a link up, and have anyone interested- join in and sponsor a soldier for a card or package....I think it would be ABSOLUTELY fabulous.  

Life changing for some, even...

But I would be heartbroken if it was a flop.

If anyone is LEGITIMATELY interested as a co-sponsor or simply a participant let me know.

We could save someone's life by giving them hope.

Doesn't that sound like it is worth your time and money?

It's a wonderful coincidence that I had planned to post this today, because yesterday Kathryn nominated me as "Best U.S. Military Spouse Blogger".  I don't know if anything will come of it, but I can tell you that it meant the world to me, just to be nominated.  If you can find her nomination (page 3 if nothing changes), feel free to "like" it or leave an encouraging comment. I hope it's not too hard to find!
Thanks so much girl, and thanks to all of you for always being there for me <3