While reading through this satiric list of useless Care Package items that deployed service personnel receive and responses from those, same personnel, it occurred to me that I haven’t sent an “Any Soldier” package.
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| Female Soldier Training at Annapolis |
I decided that I’m going to.
I ordered a package of Mili-Kit boxes from USPS (free!!). These boxes are 12″ x 12″ x 5.5″ and only cost $12.50 (at the Post Office) or $11.95 (at USPS.com) to send to an APO/FPO address, no matter how heavy they are! In addition to this box, I will need Customs PS Form 2976-A which I can complete/print or download/print and complete by hand. Hints on completing it by hand can be found here.
Now . . . How to fill the boxes . . .
I’m sending to female soldiers in a hot, dry environment . . . They need pesonal care supplies. What would I miss? Tampons, soap, shampoo, conditioner, lip care, baby wipes (because they can’t shower every day), cotton swabs, toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, and deodorant. A couple of books or recent magazines. Pencils, paper, and envelopes for letters home. Got it.
Who to send to? From AnySoldier, I’ve chosen Sergeant Anthony Quail, currently in Afghanistan and expected to be there another year. He is the contact point for 100 female soldiers. Anything I send that one female doesn’t need, there will be another who will.
Once a month? I can do this. I just wish I could do it once a week. And that leads me to . . .
The Jane Project doing this as a group! I’ve found a wholesale outlet that will sell travel-sized shampoos and conditioners and soaps for less than $50 a case. I’d like to buy a case or two of these and break them up into separate care packages (supplemented with other items) and send them every couple of weeks. If you’re able to contribute, e-mail us, and we’ll send you a PayPal address. If you have any ideas for this project, pls let us know!
~Riot.Jane
Life-long Texan with a substantial chip on her shoulder.
Cultural Dissidence 
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