Care Packages to Iraq

Care packages to Iraq are best sent by the United States mail system. You will use an APO or FPO to get your package to its Iraq location. The APO or FPO is used to send mail and packages to all military people wherever they are stationed.

In sending care packages to Iraq, the APO or FPO is inserted in place of the name of the city or base your loved one is stationed at.

These addresses apply to both civilians and military personnel stationed in Iraq.

When sending packages to Iraq, you need to know that you must fill out customs form 2976-A which you can get at the post office. Keep some at home so you can list each item on the form as you fill your box. This is a requirement.

It is very important that you list every item in your care packages to Iraq on the customs form. Each package could possibly be x-rayed. If something in the box resembles an explosive device and is not listed on the form, the box could be blown up, destroyed, all your hard work gone in an instant! Don't chance it--fill out the form listing everything.

In the value space on the customs form, make sure that you do not put the full value of items, especially expensive ones. Always undervalue items to prevent would-be thieves from stealing the contents of your package.

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Visit David's Store to learn more.

Fortunately for me, it was just a few inches under the maximum so they took it. That was the first time I heard of this. It was so big and heavy that it cost me more than $50 to mail.

If you are using a box that was previously used to ship alcohol or another forbidden product in Iraq, take a black marker and mark out all references to the forbidden product. Better yet, get a different box.

The best way to send care packages to Iraq is by using flat rate boxes provided by the post office.

That way, you won't have to worry about weight, measurements, or a ridiculous cost.

The flat rate boxes are small, but cost only $8.95 a piece to mail to a package to Iraq, no matter how much they weigh. This is the current cost as of February of 2008. This is a great deal. The post office offers this option to truly make it the best way to send care packages to Iraq. If you can't fit it all into one box, send two or three at a time. That is what I do and it is still cheaper than sending by weight.

The flat rate boxes come in two sizes. One is 11" x 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" and is approximately the size of a shoe box. You can easily fit a lot of little things into it--lots of small, individually wrapped snacks, candy bars, gum, toiletries, and DVD's.

The other flat rate box is 11 7/8" x 3 3/8" x 13 5/8" which is about the size of a box used for shirts in a department store. I have crammed a lot of books, magazines, and even tennis shoes for my husband into this sized box. You can pick these boxes up at the post office by asking the workers there for some the next time you mail a package or buy stamps.

You can also call 1-800-610-8734 and select option 1. When the agent comes on the line, ask for the military kit which is also called Care Kit 4.

There is one more way to get the flat rate boxes which are best for sending care packages to Iraq. You can order them online for FREE at shop.usps.com!

If you have not used this site before, you will have to register and then you can order both sizes of the flat rate box and the customs forms. They will be delivered to your door in about 10 days for FREE! This is such a cool service provided by the US Postal Service to help make life a little easier in sending your care packages to Iraq.

The best way to send care packages to Iraq is to make sure the contents will not be moving inside the box during shipping.

I use "fillers" in between items and in little empty spaces. No, I don't use those annoying packing peanuts. For fillers, I use washcloths, socks, towels, t-shirts, anything useful for the recipient that will fit into little spaces. Get creative.

Tape the package to Iraq shut with postal approved tape and use several layers to make sure your box will stay shut. I went to Wal-Mart and got clear postal tape and a dispenser for it.

Remember that you cannot use scotch tape or masking tape as it will not hold your care package to Iraq shut during the long trip. The post office will not accept your package like this.

Address your label and put it on the front of the box. Put a return address on there as well. Take the box with the corresponding customs form to the post office. If you are mailing more than one box at a time, make sure that you fill out a separate customs form for each box.

In anywhere from as little as 8 days to 21 days, your recipient should receive his care packages to Iraq from you. The shortest shipping time for mine was 8 days and the longest was 18 days.

Using flat rate boxes when you can is the best way to send care packages to Iraq because you are paying for postage from your city to either the east coast or the west coast in the USA, not all the way to Iraq. This is a tremendous cost savings for care packages to Iraq.

Since Priority Mail service supplies are the packaging of choice for families preparing care packages to Iraq for service members overseas, the USPS has created a "Mili-kit" based on the items most frequently requested by the military.

The kit contains:

Three (3) each of flat rate boxes O-FRB1 and O-FRB2

Two (2) each of Cube boxes OBOX7

Address labels - Label # 228 8 each

Address labels - Label # 106-A 1 each

Customs FORM 2976-A 8 EACH

Customs FORM 2976-E 8 EACH

The kit may be requested by calling 1-800-610-8734 (Packing Supply) and:

Choose your language (1 is English, 2 is Spanish).

Choose option 1 (it states it is for Express Mail service, Priority Mail or Global Express Guaranteed).

When you reach a live agent, request CAREKIT04.

Please allow 7-10 days for delivery.

Note: These are free supplies, postage must be affixed.

Additionally, you can find guidelines for packing, addressing, and shipping items to U.S. troops at the USPS web site.

Sending care packages to Iraq is one of the best ways to boost the morale of our troops and civilians alike.

At most camps in Iraq, the PX (base store) runs out of popular items quickly. It does not carry very many items in war zones in most cases. The merchandise in Iraq at the base stores is priced high. To help out your loved ones, please send care packages to Iraq for them.

If you do not have loved ones there, ask some friends and people at your church for names and addresses of troops and civilians that they know who are currently serving in Iraq. Then do your part and show them how much you appreciate their service. Send them some snack foods and toiletries from home so they know they are appreciated and not taken for granted by their country. Enclose a note thanking them for their service.

Of course, you will want to send care packages to Iraq to your loved ones. But sometimes it is good to send things for your loved ones to share with co-workers.

Some of our military and civilian personnel never get boxes of goodies from home. Perhaps they have no family. Maybe there is no one who cares about them. Perhaps the people at home just don't want to be bothered with packing and mailing a box. And in some cases, family and friends do not believe in what their loved one is doing. So we can boost their morale and let them know we appreciate their sacrifice by sending some things for them, too.

Food items are always a big hit in your care packages to Iraq. Bake several batches of home-baked cookies and pack them in plastic wrap-lined tins to keep them fresh. Send enough for the whole unit to enjoy.

Send large bags of candy, gum, and chocolates so your loved one can divide them among his/her friends. Ground gourmet coffees and powdered flavored creamers are also appreciated. My husband loves to receive these in a care package to Iraq.

Individually wrapped snacks are great to put in your care package to Iraq. Buy assorted chips, pretzels, crackers, cookies, fruit snacks, breakfast bars, dried fruits, trail mix, nuts, sunflower seeds, jerky...whatever snacks you think will be enjoyed. They will be!

Chocolate is a favorite but can only be sent when cool weather arrives. Otherwise it will melt. Even M&M's will melt in the summertime.

Some soldiers like to have their favorite drinks (not alcohol) sent to them since it is not available here. I have known people who had Dad's Root Beer or Big Red sent, since these cannot be found here.

Remember that alcohol is not allowed so do not send that!

What else can you put in the care packages to Iraq? Pack some magazines and paperback books that can be passed around. CD's of new music and newly released DVD's are also greatly appreciated.

Personal items, like baby wipes, soaps, shampoo, deodorant, q-tips, powder, and lotion are popular coveted items to put in.

Small flashlights and extra batteries make a thoughtful gift and are inexpensive.

Put yourself in their shoes. Pretend you are in a hot, smelly war zone. What do you think would help make it more bearable? Buy several of those items at a time and send them in a care package to Iraq.

Perhaps your church or club can make this a project, with everyone bringing in different items to send once or twice a month or at holiday times. It is a great way for your organization to help boost the morale of loved ones and their co-workers who are so far away.

So your loved one wants you to send care packages to Iraq. What should you put in the care package to Iraq?

I have sent many care packages to Iraq over the past five years. Sometimes David wants necessities such as work uniforms, shoes, coats, sweats, sheets, etc. Sometimes he wants Visine since the sand really hurts his eyes. Sometimes he wants goodies.

The PX only carries certain items at one time, depending on what they get in on supply trucks. With the insurgents and their roadside bombs, trucks are delayed or blown up so many things do not arrive at the PX in a timely manner.

Also, David is a large man and many times the PX does not have his size. So I go to Wal-Mart or wherever I can find a bargain and purchase what he needs. Then I mail out the care packages to Iraq and he has it about two weeks later.

Some of the best things to put in a care package from home are things you know he or she will love such as photos of the family and/or a beloved pet. (No, not the pet, just a photo of the pet!)

Favorite snacks such as cookies, chips, candies, and gum are coveted by everyone over there. Chocolate is in high demand but if you mail it in the summer, it will arrive as liquid. Mail plenty of chocolate in your care package to Iraq during the winter months so the troops can store it in the cool air conditioned housing if they are so fortunate to have it.

Most bases do have it now. When David first arrived in Iraq five years ago, he stayed in a tent for a while. Things are much better for troops and civilians now.

Baby wipes are another coveted item that you should stockpile into care packages to Iraq. Send some big boxes of them, along with small convenient-to-carry pouches so they can take the wipes with them in their pocket. That way, the small pouches can be reloaded again and again.

Hand sanitizer is also great to carry. Just make sure that it is placed inside of a sealed Ziploc bag. That way, if it does come open, it will not get all over the contents of everything else in the box.

Batteries for flashlights and radios are also wanted items as the PX does not always have them in stock. Again, pack them in Ziploc bags in case they explode and don't send them in hot weather.

My husband likes to burn small aromatherapy candles in his room while he reads. A little bit of aromatherapy in a stench-filled place lifts the soul so consider sending candles in the cooler months in a Ziploc bag. Don't forget to send a small metal candle holder so he/she can safely burn the candles. Do not attempt to send matches or a lighter. These are not allowed by the United States Post Office!

SPECIAL NOTE: SOME PLACES DO NOT ALLOW CANDLES

CD's and DVD's are also big requested items. The PX carries very few music CD's and movies. Most of them are not the big movie hits that we get to buy at Wal-Mart. So every few weeks, send one or two in a package to Iraq so they have something new to look at. It makes them forget they are in a war zone and adds a touch of normalcy to their lives.

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