Our troops in the middle east

Before y'all spend all your money on shipping - the Post Office has just introduced 2 new FLAT RATE priority boxes. These ship priority mail, with any weight, to any destination, for $7.70. Here's a link to info about the boxes:

http://shop.usps.com/cgi-bin/vsbv/postal_store_non_ssl/display_products/productDetail.jsp?OID=4849213

Even if you have to use 2 boxes for all your "goodies", the shipping would still be cheaper than the regular rate for 1 box. The larger size could easily hold more than 10# of small, heavy items. These can be ordered (free) from the website, or picked up at the post office.

Nik

Jody,
I dont remember the exact postage or how much they weiged, but i can remember thinking Eeeek, and writing out the check. They were heavy, but there was no expense spared in filling these.

Dea, I've sent plenty of stuff in glass jars. I put them in ziplock bags and then wrapped them heavy with bubble wrap. Also be sure to place them towards the center of the box.

What a good idea.Mine (flat rate)just came yesterday.
They'd be great for canned foods too.
I think they will allow up to 70lbs in the box.

Now who is going to give me a name or do I pick one from that list you have posted.
Thanks,Jody

I forgot about that and I have boxes ordered, too. I will have to look up the size and compare it with this priority box I have here..

Jody...just pick one...maybe you'll see one that reaches out to you.

About the hot sauce...when I was sending to our troops from here at our Army Base (the Chaplains Office did the actualy "sending" so I don't know the cost)....I went by Taco Bell and asked "for some hot sauce to send to our troops". They gave me a WHOLE BOX! Glad I didn't have to mail it...LOL
I may ask them (a different location this time!) for some more and just keep it to parcel out as I send other gift boxes overseas.

Jo

I went to the anysoldier site and found some guys in the mountains in Afganistan to send to.So I'm heading to town tomorrow to buy them some goodies.I'm so glad I found this thread.Thanks,Jody

Jo, I didn't see your post so I told Western all about Western North Carolina. Had no idea he was from here, lol. I wrote him a 2-pg letter and sent a photo of Whitewater Falls. I hope I didn't make him too homesick.

This message was edited Dec 4, 2004 7:45 PM

WS...I don't know WHERE he is from...I just picked him becasue of his name...Western...and you living in Western NC...LOL So you see...he will be glad to know all about your area.

Jo

OOOPS...I just read down through the thread and see that Tmbolin asked me to assigner her a name...so I will take:

SrA Schaffer....for Tina...Tnbolin

Jo

oh, well, du-uh. Thanks

Okay I can handle two.How about TSgt Isaacs and SSgt Quinley.Are they still open for letters and goodies.Thanks,Jody

~~~~~~~~~~~ moved to end of thread ~~~~~~~
~~~~ thanks blaine ~~~~~~~

This message was edited Dec 5, 2004 6:06 PM

earthling, RR, Jodyc, Tnbolin, JenniferG your names have been added as requested.

I grabbed another as well.

I'd say please don't let the spirit of giving make you mortgage the house. A card and note and small pkg will do absolute wonders.
thanks again
blaine

I'll take A1C Finn (F) too.I'm sick at home and have nothing to do.But trade plants and seeds and play on the internet. It will be good for them and me too.

OK! Now...hmmmm let me see...such nice people to pick from...I'll take the last remaing Female....A1C Simpson

Jo

Thanks, 8ftbed. This will be great!
Jen

I went over and posted in some ofhter forums that we still had about 24 that needed Pen-pals...I hope they all get selected.

OH...I was just thinking...are the ones that MSJen took for her son's class for cards...they still need someone to send them a package? Is that right? Jo

RR,
I thought that the ones for the class were names that had already been picked by someone else that was sending a package?
I will send a package to the one that Bran is writing to.
Jen

The first Christmas the guys and gals were over there fighting I made 50 lbs of home made chocolate candies(millionares, walnut cluster, peanut clusters, and snickers bars) and shipped to them. Was not cheap to make or ship either and took 7 full days of my time. Can you believe I did not get one thank you!!!! We also sent directly to a friend that was there and had requested some of the things you mentioned above. He didn't send a thank you either so we don't do it anymore. Sorry I am a scrooge about it.

If they don't; e-mail me. I'll at least send them all a Christmas card.Jody

This message was edited Dec 5, 2004 12:14 AM

So - when we ship these boxes, do they go to San Fran....is that what we pay postage to? Sounds like a silly question, but I have special prices with FedEx...but NOT to Iraq.

TIA

Donna, I hear you. But many "kids" just don't have any manners at all - and it really isn't their fault...

...or they never even made it to the troops. They could have been horded by customs? the mail post?
I'd be more prone to think that whoever receives the "any soldier" mail over there saw "candy" on the customs form and kept it as a personal stash.

I am hoping I will get those flat rate boxes this week....If I do, I will take another name..

I wonder if those boxes would be available at the post office....at least a few of them..I am going to check on Monday.

Donna - I totally understand you sentiments. That's why earlier I said I was going to prod my son into reminding his team they should at least acknowledge receipt. FWIW, when I was deployed during holidays, the ship would receive batches of cards to "any sailor" and they were kind of handed out. There was nothing personal like "Hi Blaine..." because the senders were just shooting in the dark. Consequently, I don't remember ever responding to the cards I opened as well. Never saw any packages though!

Shoot - my son is as courteous as they come but I recently had to ask with pleading in the subject line to find out whether he had received any of the 3 recent boxes. I understand his mind is elsewhere but ....

Postage gets you to the APO on the coast then it's handled by military from there on.

The government should let the mail going to the soldiers be free.

That'd be NICE!
Postage is free for them though. I told my son he 'had' to come back home because he had to bring me a rock.

When he got over there and said the postage was free I said "Fine, just mail me a couple of big one, I'm overhauling your bedroom into a guest and plant room and we'll call it even!!"

SHHHHH, i didnt tell you this, but tell him to go to Babylon and bring you back a pottery shard : )My mom collects rocks also and finally after 1 1/2 years she got one. 1st time DH came home he gave her a piece of marble out of one of Saddams palace and she said "well thats great, but wheres my rock" lol.


Back to the names tho, I noticed the 4 that you gave me for my sons class were not picked up by anyone else to send care packages to. Can you add those 4 back to the general population list so someone can pick them also? I think RR had a great idea to pick names that had already been picked for the kids to be penpals to. Just want to make sure that everyone is taken care of
Jen

I want a rock too.lol

Done Jen. (still snickering over Mom..)
Heyyy! Maybe that might be a good deal. Especially with troops in Afghanistan. Mountains and rocks, right?

"pssst, hey soldier. Whatcha want? Flints for your zippo lighter? battery warmed socks? You mail me nice rocks, I send you good stuff"

LOL.Now thats a good idea bribe them.

OHHH I have a girl friend that collect rock...I collect Rocks and Minerals...but my DGD brought her a rock from Singapore and the Eden Gulf while her ship was in these ports...perhaps I can get my Pen Pal to send me some for her.

Jen...If your son's class still wants names...use the ones I am using also...Simpson (F) and Masterson....and pick the one I assigend to Tina...SrS Schaffer, plus the one I picked for Woodspirit...Western

Now that give you co-owerniship of:
A1C WESTERN
SrA SCHAFFER
A1C SIMPSON (F)
AMN MASTERSON

Now these soldiers will be SPECIAL...not only will they get a package, they will also get the wonderful gift of a letter/card from a shool child!!

Tell the class I appreciate them!

Jo





This message was edited Dec 5, 2004 6:33 AM

You leave mah man alone, rr. I'll scratch your eyes out, lol.
Jo were these folks selected because of the likelihood that they will not receive much mail from family? Just curious, it seems that would be a priority.

8ftbed's son asked WHO wanted to have a Pen-pal...that many gave us their name.

Now, about your man....hehehe...can't you share him with a student? AHHH ...afraid he'll like their letter better than yours!! LOL

This is so great...gives me the Christmas Spirit...which I need very badly at this time of year. I lost my DH on the 21of Dec...so our Holiday is always a reminder of that. Thanks for the cheering up. Jo

OK, I'll retract my claws in the name of Christmas spirit. I hope he likes the picture I sent him. I have no idea what to send him in the way of a gift. A subscription to Playboy?

Oh God, NO, not in the Middle East!!!!

Just kidding. I will ask him what he wants or needs..

Ho, Ho, Ho ladies! Just got back from annual tree hunt. Now it's off to SAM's for pictures and my boxes to the mid east.

bad santa lives....

Okay, I'm going for my second one now. Give me:
Mohn
380 ESFS / SFO (A/B)
APO, AE
09853-5000

We still have a long list of remaining names here and I am wondering if there is anyone left who may not receive many, if any, letters or care packages from home? This is my personal opinion only, but I feel we need to focus on them.

Although servicemembers are great about sharing goodies, it still isn't the same as the unexpected surprise of finding out you have mail - especially when you are expecting nothing at all.

Carol...I agree with you. Things have to be in the mail by the 11th, so we don't have much time to find out.

I went shopping after Church this morning...and told the cashier what I was doing...she asked me to give her a name too! Aren't people nice?

I'll call her later and give her: A1C DAVIS...here name is Rhonda

Woodspirit...there is a list of item they would like to receive up aaaaaaaabout the top of this thread...and Beef Jerky is in demand.

I went back by Taco Bell (lunch...hehehe) and had them give me a few handdfuls of hot sauce to put in my packages...very popular with the soldiers!

Jo