Hundreds of thousands of American service men and women are deployed around the world. Many are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, where the climates can be extreme. Temperatures can top 120 degrees in Iraq. In Afghanistan the weather can range from hot (and dusty) in the desert areas to freezing in the mountains.
Soldiers miss home and the treats and refreshments we take for granted. Your family can share seasonal treats that you enjoy with soldiers overseas through the FamilyCares Support Soldiers through the Seasons project. Along with your letters, cards, drawings and other basic care package supplies; you can treat a soldier to lemonade or a cup of hot cocoa.
All family members can participate in this project. Ask your children what they like about the seasons. Ask how they could help somebody far away from home enjoy the season here. A pressed flower from your spring garden? A cut out paper snowflake? Incorporate their ideas in the contents of the package.
Materials Needed:
A sturdy box or post-office package
Packing materials-no string or cord
Packing tape
A drawing or note from your child or a letter of thanks and encouragement from you - very important!
Suggested Items Needed in Any Season:
Chap stick
Sunscreen
Toothpaste
Toothbrush
Mouthwash
Foot powder
Ziploc bags
Batteries
Wipes
Hand sanitizer
Moisturizer
Shave gel/razors
Gum/Mints
Seasonal Extras:
Seasonal candy like candy canes
Teabags or powdered ice tea mix or powdered lemonade
Hot chocolate packages
Trail Mix
A pressed spring flower (you can laminate them at stores like Kinkos
A pressed autumn leaf
A small shell from a nearby beach
A pinecone
A winter decoration
A paper snowflake cut by your child
Restrictions
The restrictions for military mail vary depending on where you send it. Here are a few good rules to follow. If you have additional questions, feel free to use the USPS locator service to look up additional restrictions (http://www.usps.com/supportingourtroops/ ).
- A package cannot weigh over 70 lbs.
- No aerosol products.
- No food products that will go bad. (i.e.- no oranges, apples, pies, etc) Think 100 degrees – a typical temperature in the desert.
- No pork items.
Steps Involved
- If you don’t know a soldier, ask friends, family, neighbors, or your local high school if there are any young people from your community who are serving overseas. Tell them your family would like to encourage and treat them with goodies from home.
- If you cannot find a local community member, you can contact two Kids Care Clubs* facilitators whose clubs are located on military bases. Evelyn Montgomery is a Kids Care Club facilitator at Fort Benning, Georgia. Evelyn.Montgomery@am.dodea.edu. Louise Bennett is a Kids Care Clubs* facilitator at Twenty-Nine Palms, California. operationhero.kcc@aldephia.net Both bases are shipping packages through the seasons to our troops. You can contact Evelyn or Louise if you would like to ship your package through them to soldiers serving from their bases.
- Sit down with your children and talk about your project. Perhaps your family has a relative or you know a soldier who served or is now serving overseas. Talk about why the soldiers would welcome a letter and need the items you are sending. Talk about what the countries are like and where they are located on the globe. (See map below) Websites such as Time For Kids at http://www.timeforkids.com or Scholastic at www.scholastic.com can help you explain current events to your children- you can search through previous articles also.
- Ask your children to draw pictures. Write words of encouragement in a letter or card. These greetings might mean more than the material goods sent!
- Double check mailing restrictions at http://usgovinfo.about.com/library/weekly/bltroopsupport.htm.
- Be sure you follow the guidelines and understand what is restricted before you begin assembling your package. Use marker to cover over any previous mailing information on your box.
- Assemble the package, taking care to put all liquid items in Ziploc bags.
- Pack your package very carefully and sturdily. You might want to include a list of items that you are shipping inside.
- Include your mailing address on the outside of the package. Mail your package.
*Kids Care Clubs (www.kidscare.org) is a program of the Points of Light Institute designed to develop compassion and the spirit of service and philanthropy in elementary and middle school youth.
Resources
Additional information on mailing restrictions can be found at
http://www.usps.com/supportingourtroops/mailingrestrictions.htm
To support wounded soldiers residing in military hospitals in the United States see FamilyCares Words for the Wounded www.familycares.org/projects/familycares_Words_for_Wounded.cfm
