Army Wife Connection

Don’t forget!

The United States Postal Service (USPS) will supply for free, to anyone who asks, specially packaged Priority Mail supplies for shipping “care kits” to members of the U.S. military stationed overseas. Each supply kit includes:

• 4 Priority Mail Flat-Rate “shoe box“-type shipping boxes
• 6 Priority Mail Flat-Rate “garment box“-type shipping boxes
• 10 Priority Mail labels
• 1 roll of Priority Mail tape
• 10 customs forms with envelopes

To obtain a free kit of shipping supplies, simply call the USPS’ packing supplies order line at 1-800-610-8734, select option #1 (”Express Mail, Priority Mail or Global Express Guaranteed products”), and ask a customer service agent for CAREKIT04 (or a “military kit”). You need supply only your name, address, and phone number, and they’ll get a kit off to you that should arrive within 7-10 days. (This offer includes only packing materials — senders who use these materials still have to pay the requisite postage themselves.)

The USPS also offers a “Supporting Our Troops” page on their web site with links to guidelines for packing, addressing, and shipping items to U.S. troops.

Take advantage of these programs when ever you can! Free stuff is good stuff, in my book.