Sending Care Packages to Deployed Military Service Members
General Guidelines
- Your package may take up to four (4) weeks to reach your service member, so pack things that will not spoil and allow more time for holidays.
- Your package may sit in extreme weather before your service member can collect it so do not pack things that will melt or could be damaged by exposure to moisture.
- Remember that it is likely that your service member will share his/her package with others in his unit, so be mindful to not send very personal things.
- Always include your return address so that the service member may write back if they do not have your address available to them otherwise.
- Do NOT send a package without a recipient name – it will generally not be accepted by the military for safety reasons.
Do not send:
Illegal Substances
Alcoholic Beverages
Explosives, including Fireworks
Pork Products or By-Products
Fresh Fruit, Vegetables or Meat
Offensive/Obscene Materials (i.e., photos, drawings, DVD’s or magazines)
(These items are illegal for you to send, or can get your soldier reprimanded)
- The USPS provides Priority Mail boxes for no charge. These boxes are specifically designated for APO/FPO addresses and ship for a “flat rate” no matter the weight – “If it fits, it ships.” Don’t forget the CUSTOMS FORMS – your package cannot be delivered without the proper forms. The boxes and forms are available at your local post office or can be obtained online at www.usps.com. Postage is slightly cheaper if purchased online and you can print your own shipping label/customs form via the USPS website. (If self-printing a label, be sure not to cover any of the bar codes with packing tape or they will be unable to process your package).
- Insurance is usually not necessary for these packages, however, if you send something valuable it might be a good idea. If you send something of great value, you need to pack it for a very rough ride. In some instances it is preferable to order online and let the company ship it to your service member.
- Don’t skimp on packing tape! Seal the box completely.
- If you do not have an APO or FPO address for your service member, you can try contacting the Family Readiness Group (FRG) for the appropriate branch of service for help.
Tips for Packing
- Utilize resealable plastic bags to separate and protect certain items – this may help retain freshness, contain damage from melting or leaking, and also keep out sand or rain. Be sure to squeeze all of the air out!
- Tighten lids on anything that might leak, (i.e. shampoo, body wash, hot sauce, etc.).
- If you buy boxed items with smaller packaged items inside, such as fruit snacks, empty the box directly into package so that the individual packages can fill the nooks & crannies.
- Be mindful about putting scented soaps/lotions together with foodstuff. Food could end up tasting like lotion or soap by the time they arrive!
- When sending wipes, try to avoid alcohol based ones (baby wipes that are cucumber scented are excellent).
- When sending blankets or clothing, wash first so they smell like home and then put in a vacuum-sealed bag (to condense bulk).
Suggested Items
This is not intended to be a complete list of allowable items to send in care packages to deployed service members. It is simply an alphabetical list of basic suggestions that we hope will be helpful:
Acetaminophen
Adhesive Bandages
Anti-Diarrheal
Almond Butter
Antacids
Antibacterial Ointment
Anti-Snore Strips
Applesauce
Baby Powder (unscented)
Baby Wipes
Batteries (all sizes especially AA)
BBQ Sauce
Beef Jerky
Blanket
Blister Treatment/Moleskin
Body Spray
Body Wash
Breath Strips
Breath Mints
Calamine Lotion
Canned Fruit (pop tops)
Cereal
Cereal Bars
Chewing Gum
Chicken in Foil Pouch (no need for can opener)
Cotton Swabs
Cold Capsules
Comb
Comic Books
Conditioner
Construction or Scrapbooking Paper
Contact Lens Solution
Cotton Balls
Cough Drops
Crackers
Cookies
Cup of Noodles
Dental Floss
Deodorant
Dice
Disposable Camera
DVDs & VHS Movies
Drawing Pad
Dried Fruit
Drink Mix Singles to add to water bottles
Disposable Razors
Earbuds
Electronic Hand Held Games
Envelopes
Eye drops (moisturizing)
Fans (Hand Held)
Flashlight
Frisbee
Fruit Snack Gummies
Granola Bars
Greeting Cards (blank)
Gummy Candy
Hair Bands/Clips
Hair gel
Hairbrush
Hand Sanitizer
Hairspray (pump)
Hand Soap
Hard Candy
Headsets
Handi-Snacks (pre-packaged crackers w/filling)
Hot Sauce
Hydrocortisone Cream
Instant Coffee
Instant Heat Pain Packs
Instant Oatmeal
Instant Soup
Jelly Beans
Joke Books
Journals
Jump Rope
Lens Cleaning Cloth
Lollipops
Lotion
Lip Balm
Mad Libs
Magazines
Marshmallows
Mechanical Pencils
Mini Etch-A-Sketch
Mouthwash
MP3 Music Gift Cards (i.e. iTunes)
Muscle Pain Liniment
Music CDs
Nail Clippers
Nail File/Nail Brush
Nail Polish
Newspapers
Nuts
Online Marketplace Gift Cards (i.e. Amazon.com)
OTC Pain Patches
Paperback Books
Peanut Butter
Pens
Pillow/Pillowcase
Pink Bismuth
Plastic Flip-Flops (for shower)
Playing Cards
Pop Tarts
Power Bars
Prepaid Global Calling Cards
Puzzle Books
Raisins
Ramen
Religious/Inspirational Literature (For personal use only. Do not send religious material in bulk.)
Rice Krispy Treats
Saline Nose Spray
Sewing Kit
Shampoo
Shaving Cream
Shower Gel
Single Sheet Sets
Skittles
Snack Pies
Snack Size Chips
Snack Cakes
Snack Pudding
Soap (with case)
SOCKS (black, calf high thick boot socks)
Sports Gel
Sports Tape
Stamps/Self-Addressed Stamped Envelopes
Stationery
Stress Ball
Sunflower Seeds
Sunglasses
Sunscreen
Surface Cleaning Wipes w/Bleach
Throat Lozenges
Toilet Paper
Toothbrush
Travel Board Game
Towel/Wash Cloth (dark color)
Toothpaste
Tootsie Rolls
Trail Mix
Travel Size Tissue
Toothpicks
Tuna in Foil Pouch (no need for can opener)
Tweezers
Warming Packs for Hands/Feet
Ziploc Bags