Hi I was looking at one of the soldiers pages that has been requested a lot. I always wonder if they write more or post more often to get requested more. Anyway one of the soldiers mentioned that Christmas decorations should be winter decorations, snowflakes, snowman that type of thing. Is this across the board? A safe way to go? Thoughts? I want them to be able to use the things I send, so I want to do the right thing. Thanks, Tracy

 On the first question,  MHO is "not necessarily."  I support several USMC platoons that don't have internet access so their postings are few and far between.  That hasn't affected the number of requests for their contact information.

 On the 2nd one, I'd say yes.  If the decorations are going to a country of Islamic faith then we need to be sensitive about their laws and customs.  I send a lot of stuffed animals and beanie babies and always exclude pigs, dogs, reptiles, insects.    When I send blank occasion cards I also choose messages that are "neutral."   For Christmas decorations I plan to send a tree, some globe ornament, lights,  extension cords.  Snowflakes and snowman are a good idea, I think I'll include that.

One of my contacts when requesting Beanie Babies for the local children specifically requested 'no dogs, no pigs' out of respect for the local customs.  Some have also stated that monkeys should also be excluded.  This topic has also been thoroughly discussed on other threads so you might want to do a search and see what you find. 

If the blank cards are intended to be sent home to loved ones in the States, I don't understand why they need to be "neutral". Just my thoughts.

As to decorations, I'd check with the contact and see what is going on in their area this year to be safe.

ann:

If the blank cards are intended to be sent home to loved ones in the States, I don't understand why they need to be "neutral". Just my thoughts.

 

The cards will be in a foreign country before they are sent to the US.   My experience, my choice..  

Hi Tracy:

I used to think those contacts that post more often garnered more requests, as did contacts who had a way with words and could write a funny and witty post, but from what I've seen over the past year, it doesn't make much of a difference unless they state that they're not getting as many packages as before or haven't received anything in a long time. I believe this may be because folks have tighter budgets this year.

We'll be seeing a lot of requests for holiday decorations soon. If they have electricity, strings of Christmas lights are a popular request as are trees and ornaments. I usually try to send a small tree, lights and a box of ornaments to my contacts. Big Lots has small trees for under $5, a big variety of lights, and sets of boxed glass ornaments-just wrap well and they will be fine. I have friends who have sent full-sized trees from JC Penney and Wal-Mart...they ship to APO/FPO addresses. Holiday themed plastic door covers and snowflake appliques for windows are an inexpensive way to liven up a room for the holidays as long as they're not living in a tent. Santa and elves hats! I just bought fifty Santa hats for eighty six cents each from a web site today! I always send a bit of wrapping paper, ribbon and tape just in case they have something small they want to wrap up and give to someone. Wreaths, gingerbread house kits, garland, Christmas cards (send now so they'll have time to send them back home), ornament making kits...are some of the things I've sent in the past. You might want to send holiday themed movies or a Christmas cd too. I always try to enclose a few wrapped gifts too and write a note to the contact telling him to give them to those soldiers who don't receive any mail. The thought of a someone over there, who never receives a package or letter and has nothing to open on Christmas morning makes me depressed.

After the holidays, they'll most likely toss the decorations because the environment is dusty (and very muddy in the winter) and they're limited on storage space, so don't spend a lot! I'm sure they will appreciate anything you send, even if it's just a card. Whatever it is, they'll know you're thinking of them.

Now, about what holiday treats should one send? I'm sure there will be a thread on that subject shortly! Hope this helps.

Jen

For those co-habitating with the Iraqi or Afghani armies, I agree that it's a good idea to stay with the winter theme.  For others, I don't think it matters too much....

cj/

I was recently very proud of my oldest son.  He looked at me while we were at the store and said, Mommy can we shop for the soldiers?  How could I say no??  At Dollar general my 7 yr old picked out a 14 in LED Christmas tree.  It is battery operated by 2 AA batteries and to quote my son "will fit in the box Mom" . (and it does corner to corner!) He also picked out a small string of metallic garland for it and a small box of mini ornaments. Small, yes, but many of my contacts are in remote locations living in rather rough conditions with very limited space and electricity.  We are also sending a Card with Santa that includes a CD of Christmas songs.  There was also a box of gingerbread tea already available too.  All for under $10. 

We bought 3 sets for the different contacts in remote Afghanistan.  So this went into the box with the pin the hat on the turkey game from the Target dollar bin, the Halloween decorations and treats for a "Holiday" box. 

For Thanksgiving, we have some ideas for a simulated "turkey" dinner including turkey spam, canned gravy, microwave stuffing/mashed potatoes, and canned veggies.  I am still trying to figure out the pumpkin pie or apple pie angle...Maybe a pumpkin pie air freshener or something... 

Same goes for Christmas.  I can't send a ham, but maybe a "beef" dinner this time (I am hoping to find vacuum packed beef) with canned gravy, just really EARLY, so they get it in time and mark it don't open until Christmas or something.  I CAN send Christmas cookies with the Christmas dinner.  The store will have those coming out our ears soon.

 

(I've typed up 2 other replies and havent seen them posted yet so maybe the third times a charm!  Hopefully the other two wont show up WITH this third one!  haha)

I cant decide if I want to send a tree with homemade cinnamon ornaments(gingerbread men and snowmen) or if I want to send stockings stuffed with goodies.  The cinnamon ornaments smell so good and the scent last a long time so they could also act as an air freshner after Christmas.  I'll just need to make sure and label them "decoration only".  Yes, they smell good enough to eat!  The kids want to send a tree with decorations AND the stockings. 

The small to medium trees usually arent that expensive but I wonder what the shipping would be on that.

amelia

Hi amelia - I imagine cost for tree depends on tree and what kind of box u can fit it in and where it is going. as in:

Last yr I sent a 3 footer to a contact - it actually came apart into 2 pieces so I shipped it in 2 boxes.  Had to get one box from "brown" - which ever courier that is:  They were very helpful in finding the right size box for a veeeery reasonble price.  A couple of dollars.  And actually helped me squish the tree down. No it wasn't pre- decorated.  I was also able to fit a lot of ornaments packed around it.  I brought the PO measurements with me to make sure I didn't get a box that would trigger the balloon charge:).  Second part of tree went in a second box - same thing - squished down.  Contact had no problem "fluffing" it back out and they were very glad to get the tree with sone ornaments, garlands and lights.

 I live near the coast so shipping was not very expensive - under $10 a box - under FR fee.  In mid country don't know what you'd pay tho.  I always check the USPS calculater. 

PS Squished down = the branches folded up and then squished back against the trunk of the tree and then flattened down into the box:).  Kinda like getting a bunch of pillows into a box.  Then I wrapped it alll up with strips of torn sheeting so it all didn't pop out at  them when they opened the box.

Hope this helps,

Ann

One more thought - maybe u can ship the trees in the boxes they come in - check the weight and the Postal calculater.

Unfortunately, in the midwest, unless we use the flat rate priority boxes, the rates to the east coast get expensive quick...I have calculated out boxes and it is about a $20 difference sometimes using priority...huge!  But, the final weight and size would make a huge difference. 

USPS says to mail parcel post and not hit the balloon rate, you would need to keep the box under 20 pounds and the total girth (meaning length x width x height measurement) under 84 inches.  The balloon would then kick in for 84 to 108 inches.  The from 108 to 130 it is oversized and must weigh under 70 pounds.

 Keep in mind parcel post is SLOOOOOW.  If you would use this option for Christmas decorations, ship soon.

Hi Karen - are you sure about that balloon rate on the measurement?  I thought it was 100 +  inches when I mailed the tree last yr?  Tho it might have changed. It is someplace on the USPS site but I can't find it.  I remember my PO clerk showing me how to measure the box.  He was soooo nice.  I must have been in there 4 or 5 times before I finally mailed the thing.  Anyway, I 'll try searching the USPS site again.  And yes - I know those of us who live close to ship out points are spoiled by the PO rates - even tho they are not cheap they are still cheaper than FRBs all the time and allow the flexibility of using different sized boxes.  I think he also called the charge a surcharge so maybe we are talking about 2 different things. Sorry if I have caused a bit of confusion here.  Will try to straighten it out.

Ann

EDIT: OOPS!!  Guess what I just found!!  Applicable to Parcel post and SAM - packages should not exceed 30 lbs in weight or 60 inches in length and girth - 15 lbs and 60 inches in girth and length respectively.  Still looking for the priority one.  And I found this on a recent memo about Christmas mailing - oops , sorry Holiday mailings for the Troops.

EDIT2: 11:48am - Thank you MS Cunningham for your contributions to the discussion:). Now why didn't I think of that! Oh yeah!  That CRStuff thing:).  Will try to remember to check the POSTAGE CALCULATOR  I keep telling people about next time.

Have a good one!

Priority mail packages:

-Up to 70 pounds.
- No more than 108 inches in combined length and girth

Length = longest side of parcel.
Girth = the distance measured around the thickest part of the parcel

 http://www.usps.com/prices/priority-mail-prices.htm

 Kathy

.

I don't know if this is the right thread to respond to with this, but if not, I suppose I could always post it somewhere else later. :-) I have a contact with a small group of 20 soldiers and few requests. I'm thinking about Christmas already (glad to see that I am not the only one). I saw these great little stockings in Target's $1 section. There are three different designs (Santa, a reindeer and a snowman), and they put the idea in my head to stuff 20 stockings for my guys. I just wanted to see what kind of ideas folks around here had to put in them. I already thought of drink mixes and if I can collect some DVDs, those too...but they didn't list that much on their request page. Has anyone done this kind of thing before? Did you hear anything back? Anything that was liked the most?

~Amy

Last year, there was a thread called Christmas Requests 2008.  You might check that thread out, and maybe someone will start one for 2009 for a new discussion.

 OSUTIL is sending 6000 stockings to the troops.  Here is their list of stuffers.

 

• Mechanical Pencils
• 
  
4 Packs of AA and AAA Batteries
• Mints and Christmas Candy
• Candy Canes
• Beef Jerky or Slim Jims
  
• Individual bags of nuts
• Individually wrapped Twizzlers
• New CD’s and DVD’s
  
• iTunes Gift Cards
• Small Crossword or other Puzzle Books (sudoku, word search, picture puzzle, etc.)
  
• Beanie Babies/Small Toys such as Yo-Yo’s, etc.

 You can also give them information of your contact and they will send him a care package every month through the end of his deployment.  Their package is about twice the size of the priority mail large box.  Here is the link http://www.osotil.org/mainpage.html