I should probably begin by saying, I am no expert when it comes to what you should send in military care packages. All I can do is offer you a few tips based on the things I’ve learned and what has worked for me.
First, did you know the post office has special boxes that can only be sent to Military addresses? It looks just like the box below. You can pick one up the next time you stop by so that you can pack your goodies at home and avoid awkwardly trying to fit all of your stuff into the box on the tiny counter space available at the post office. I’ve done it and trust me there isn’t enough room especially if someone else is doing the same thing.
These boxes are also sent at a discount rate no matter how much they weigh. This package was originally going to be $28 to mail but because I was sending it to an APO it was sent for just under $15. You will have to fill out a customs form at the time you ship the military care packages but if you find it confusing they will help you at the post office.
You can fit quite a bit of stuff in these boxes but you still will need to strategically plan and pack in order to maximize the space. If you want to send baked goods, I’ve found that cookie recipes that have vanilla pudding as an ingredient tend to stay good the 10 or so days it takes for the package to be delivered. My Chocolate Chip recipe held up good (you can check it out here) and so did these Peanut Butter cookies from Sweet Pea.
Something to keep in mind when you send baked goods is the weather. Sending chocolate anything to a destination with temperatures in the 90s or even the 100s is not really a good idea because the recipient will end up with a big melted chocolate mess. This time around I actually tried sending Snickerdoodle Cookies but I’m not confident that when they made it to their destination they were edible.
To ship the cookies, I’ve found that packing 8 in a Ziploc sandwich bag works great. They aren’t too bulky to pack and they are pretty sturdy. You can see in the image below how great this works. They are in the top right corner of the box.
The #1 thing I recommend sending is always flavor packets for water. Our soldiers drink a lot of water no matter where they are and these help break up the monotony of water bottle after water bottle. I often combine the packets into less boxes to save space. There is a ton of empty space in each box of flavor packets and you can often fit an entire second box and sometimes more. Remember the goal is to maximize space.
This time around I was attempting an Americana theme and was asked to not send a bunch of sweets so what I included was:
– 2 different kinds of beef jerky
– 2 packets of instant mac & cheese
– 4 boxes of flavor packets (approximately)
– Sunflower seeds
– Big League Chew in 3 flavors
– Dried Apple Rings
– Mixed Nuts
– and the item I was most excited about was:
I know, it’s hard to tell, but these are freezer pops. I took a chance on sending them not knowing if there would be a way for these to be frozen. But I have been told that the freezer pops went over well. Now I wish I’d sent more, they just take up a ton of space.
I’d also recommend sending a note or a letter. Whether it’s an update on what is going on with you, just to say hello or to tell a funny story, that item will most likely be the most cherished part of the care package because of the connection it provides to back home.
Of course you should always check with the recipient of your care package to find out if there is any specific thing they’d want you to send. Don’t let putting together a military care package stress you out. I know you want the recipient to like whatever you have sent them, but in this scenario, it really is the thought that counts.
It looks like this will be my last military care package at least for the foreseeable future. Though after sending 3 in the last few months, I can honestly say that this little gesture goes a long way! In my mind a care package is in no way a big enough thanks for the sacrifices being made, but I see it as the least I can do.
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