Ok,I am a newbie, and I am still asking questions, sorry. I know I keep the food and hygenic items in different boxes.So Far I have 3 boxes that I am ready to shut and tape like so godzilla will handle it.I want to ship all three out, but I can only do one a week at this point.I read so many requests of different soldiers, that I bought the usual requested items asked for.This will be my 1st care package I send out.I want to do one 1st , so I know I am doing it right.So I click on the link where the soldiers address will be given , correct?Then copy down on the customs form , along with another address label, am I right?I will not tape the box shut until I listed all items on Customs form.I have no pork products either.I do have chicken vienna sausages, that have no pork in the ingredients.Will the soldiers like this??I also have chicken and tuna by Bumblebee.Will that work?Crystal light etc.

And how do I  add "AE" since I am on the East coast.Where do I write that at? 

Any other important things I should know, please advise!!

I would def appreciate it

Vita~ 

Vita, welcome!  How far are you from Severna Park, MD?  I used to live there when I was a little kid.

Anyway, to the matter at hand - on the customs form, in the top left section, you enter your name and return address.  In the section below it, you write the soldier's address, just as you got it from anysoldier.com.  You can put APO where it says 'City' and you can put AE where it says 'State' and the zip code goes where - you guessed it!  - it says 'Zip Code'.

Fill out the next section where you list the contents of the box, the quantity of each item and the value of each item.  Beneath the column labeld 'Value' put the total value of the contents.  You can estimate value, does not have to be to the penny!

Sign and date the form at the bottom middle.  To the right of your signature, you need to put what you want to do with the box if they APO can not deliver it for whatever reason.  You can have it returned to you (usually you are not charged postage for this), you can have it abandoned (that sounds so harsh!) or you can have it forwarded to another soldier.  If you want it forwarded to another soldier, you need to enter their entire name and address in the small space provided.

You DO need to put the full address for the soldier, just as you were given it by anysoldier.com, on the outside of the box.  I write it in using a Sharpie permanent ink pen, then cover the address with tape so if it gets wet in transit, the address does not smeer or dissolve.  I double tape all seams of the box, put a layer of tape around the middle of the box over the top, sides, and bottom, and another layer around all 4 sides.  All of my packages have made it threw in fine shape, only thing ever reported broken was a bag of delicate potato chips I foolishly and optimistically tired mailing in my early days of AS junkiedom.  I learned from THAT mistake.  Now I send Cheetos which travel VERY well, since after all, they resemble orange cheese-flavored styrofoam packing peanuts!!!

Good luck!  And remember, even if you don't hear from your soldier, you made him or her very happy (1) just to receive mail at all and (2) to get the love and appreciation you included in your care package.

Hi Vita:

You may want to jot down the address in a notebook once you request it from the site. The post office will give you a  postmarked copy of the customs when you mail your package, but if you lose the copy or misplace it and want to send another box to the same unit, you will have to request the address again, which in turn distorts the true number of address requests for that contact. I keep my copies in a file so I can go back to retrieve their address if I am sending another package to the same unit. If you've already requested the address, just make sure you check their latest email update to be sure they haven't had an address change. If they have, you will have to request the address again.

As for the "AE"... This abbreviation is part of the military zip code.  It has nothing to with where you are located.

When you fill out the customs form, address your package exactly as it is stated on the site. In the zip code area for the ADDRESSEE you will fill in the military zip code that should be located on the last line of your contact's address. It should read something like APO AE 123456 for example. Check out the "How To Send" page on the site.

The stuff in your package sounds great! I am sure they will appreciate all the goodies. You may want to put your drink mixes in a plastic zip lock bag just in case the powder leaks during transit and include your email address in your note as some units don't have outgoing mail service.  Hope this helps more than confuses....

 Thanks to you both.So pretty much that what I have to do.I'll keep you posted on how my experience turns out at the P.O.If I could adds you to my Friends.The info is very helpful.For some strange reason the P.O. makes me nervous sometime.I have dealt with some nasty clerks before while I sending things for my Ebay shipments.Normally I do those on line shipments for Ebay only.

Also I used to l live In Rivera beach, but now reside in Brooklyn Park.So I am from Pasadena really 

Thanks! 

Vita,

Once they understand that you are sending stuff to the troops they will love you.

I lucked out when I sent my first box to an anysoldier.com recipient. The post master at one of the local post offices is retired military, so he was very helpful with making sure I had the things filled out right, and taping it for its dance with godzilla. I live out in the sticks, and it's about the same distance from one post office to the other, so I just went to him. I've learned to not take my packages in there when the woman is there. I interupt her phone yakking, and she doesn't tape things much at all. You'll learn who will be helpful and who wont!