cut and pasted from another thread.
For those that send care packs here are a few hints that I have learned:
At the post office you can get free priority mail, flat rate boxes. It costs $8.10 to mail, no matter the weight. I have crammed those boxes so full of stuff! If you are sending a box to a FPO address, you have to go into the post office to fill out a customs form. No big deal, but you can't just put the $8.10 on it. Going into the post office is fun though, because you can see how much you have saved by using this box. One time, I would have had to pay $29 if I didn't use that flat rate box! I sent a lot of batteries in that box!
Food items are by far the most popular requests
Canteens holdl 1 quart. If you send a 2 quart mix such as Crystal Light, you might wantto send a jug too!
No pork or pork products, alcohol, or pornography
No chocolate after May or before September. With temperatures reaching into the
130's and beyond, the chocolate wouldn't make it very far!
Don't forget plastic silverware with food items.
Put liquids and scented items in Zip Lock bags just in case!
Here's how to send some cake:
Use six- (6) WIDE mouth, pint size canning jars, along with rims and
ALWAYS use new metal lids.
**NOTE** Be sure to use canning jars for this NOT recycled
mayonnaise jars or the like. Be sure to sterilize the jars, rims,
and metal lids in boiling water according to the manufacturer's
directions.
Grease the inside of the six- (6) jars ---But NOT the rims of the
jars. ( I use the spray PAM with flour. It works very well)
Prepare the cake mix as instructed on the box or per your recipe
Use ONLY 1 Full Cup measured, per jar.
*NEVER USE MORE THAN 1 CUP OF BATTER, PER JAR.*
Place the open jars, evenly spaced apart for browning, on a cookie
sheet. Place in the Preheated oven (325). Bake as instructed for
cupcakes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
**When removing jars from oven, only remove one at a time. Leave the
others in the oven and work quickly**
Wipe the jar rim/top, inside & out, with a paper towel. Place the
metal disc lid in place and then screw the jar ring, tightly, to
secure. You SHOULD hear the jar seal with either a "pop" or a "ping"
sound quite fast. Open oven door and remove another jar and repeat
the process.
Also any quick bread recipe works, but be careful to MEASURE ONLY ONE-
(1) FULL CUP OF BATTER, PER JAR. You can also use regular cake mix
in these jars but ALWAYS use ONLY a measured 1 FULL CUP of batter,
per jar.
The cake will slide out of jar whole. It can then be cut in round
medallions or in quarter sticks.
I include a can of frosting too in the care pack.
There are some brillant ideas from women on the soldier's angels forum. They have made sending stuff much easier with their hints.
Catherine mentioned this (in another thread too):
Also, I do click n ship, you can fill out the customs form on line too! (On-line USPO)
The FPO goes in the "state" spot and the AP goes where the "country" usually goes.
You then just hand it to your carrier, or have them scheduled to pick it up.