Let me start by saying I love AnySoldier’s mission!  I have sent packages in the past via other methods and was directed to this site for soldier support.  I got an address from AnySoldier on Oct 22 and mailed my packages on Oct 23.  When I check the site yesterday the group that I chose has left early Nov 1^st and have been removed from the active list.  My question is where do the packages go?  Do they follow the company/the contact person?  Or do they get distributed to another company?  It really doesn’t matter as long as they get to someone that wants them – just wondering.  Thanks for the help.  

 Your guess is as good as anyone else.  If you filled in the redirect address on the customs form, it may get forwarded.  It could follow the contact home.  That happened to me.  It may get returned to you.  If you sent it priority mail you won't be charged for the returned package.  It is really hard to give a good answer to this question because we have seen it all.

Thanks for your enthusiasm and joining in the support of our troops.  Don't give up, you will have better luck next time, at least I hope so. 

I don't know your contact's name, but am wondering if they left or if the address was removed 30 days prior to leaving.  Most times the address no longer gets mail 30 prior to a unit returning home.  But, to keep the unit's movements secure and provide as much safety as possible, the ACTUAL date may not be disclosed accurately in a public forum.  So, I am wondering if your packages may have gotten in under the 30 day wire or if the unit was returned early.

As far as what will happen to the package...it is really hard to predict.  I would lay odds on returned, but that is never a guarantee.

Thanks for all the replies! 

I chose the option on the shipment to not have the packages shipped back if undeliverable :-( so I have no one to blame but me.  I’m just hoping for the best.  I thought even though they were addressed to Sgt. Timothy Britt that they would be kept in theater because of the AnyMarine in the address.  We’ll see how this works out and I’ll let you know if I hear from them.   

 Karen, from Sgt Britt’s post I assumed that they were leaving real quick but we know all about “assume”.   

Hi!  When I fill out a customs form I choose the option to redirect.....I don't want it coming back to me and then I have to pay to send it again to someone.  I X or check that box and then put "to any receiver for soldier support and morale" or "to any receiver for marine support and morale" depending on which of my contacts I'm mailing to.  Then I know it's going to go somewhere to do somebody some good.  This is not the best solution if I've sent something personal to someone I've gotten to know through this contact person or to this contact himself, but it's a compromise.  I don't want it treated as abandoned and I don't want it to come back to me.  I just had a group to move to a new location before a package got there.  My contact e-mails me and he said he didn't get it before he left but that some group there (don't know what the initials he gave me stood for) would take it over and use it.  It was Halloween candy so anybody could use it.  I hope this helps somewhat.

I used to put "redirect to any clergy". Yesterday, my postal worker said not to put that because the box will just get thrown away. Not sure if this is true or not. She said to choose to have the package returned to me, but I would much rather it just be sent to another soldier. hmmmm... there needs to be a solution.

I guess none of really can say with certainty what does happen (as I only know about the minority of packages that actually get acknowledged either with a mention in a soldier's post or an actual email or free mail).... but I always check the redirect box and put "to any us military personnel".

I do a search for someone with the same zip code and have it redirected to them and make the original the redirect for the other.

I know confusing.

The lady working at the post office told me to check abandoned!  She said they would give it to someone else if it was undeliverable! i have sent over 30 boxes in the past 2 weeks i have 2 responses,but one came off the list the day after I mailed it also . I hope someone gets it. It would be a shame to go to waste..