Well, I FINALLY mailed my first package!

[JESW]

DD4 & I went off to the p.o. today to mail the package. (I had been waiting for DS8 to finish his letter and he also drew 3 pages of pokemon characters for "our" marine) I was hoping to see the p.o. worker (Sally) who had been in Desert Storm and had been helping me, but she was on break. The box weighed in at 22 lbs., 4 oz. I thought for sure it would cost me anout $40 to mail, but it went parcel post and cost just under $10.

I didn't know that I would feel so good after mailing that. DD & I went off to BJ's after and I started picking up things for another package.

Thanks again Pembo for the name of Peter Capshaw, USMC. I hope that he will receive it soon.

Jill

 

[TwinMom7]

Thanks for your generosity Jill!

You've made some Marine's day!!!!!!!

 

[nativetxn]

Isn't it just the greatest feeling to mail a package to a service person, JESW? I've sent three so far.

I'm getting another package ready to mail, to my British soldier. I adopted an ally on the UK community Board. I do appreciate our allies in the United Kingdom so very, very much.

Patty, thank you for getting us started with this, I feel just a teeny bit less useless now that I have service personnel to think about and try to help.

I always send my packages priority mail, though. I'm too impatient for parcel post. Not that I've heard from anyone yet, but I feel less impatient using the priority mail.

Katholyn

 

[JESW]

Nativetxn....the woman at the p.o. said that it would probably not make a difference (time wise) wether it went parcel post or priority mail. Not sure if this is true or not??

Jill

 

[dandave]

DH mailed our package at the beginning of the week. I had him send it Priority Mail. I think it was $7 something for PP or $9 something PM. I'm impatient, too. It might not get there any faster, but it "feels" faster.

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

I posted the "latest word" from the folks at our post office on the Let's make a list thread. I too was told that it won't make a difference.

The post office has "committed" to moving APO and FPO address packages to the military depot as a priority - regardless of the method selected. It is at that point that they are getting overwhelmed.

Deb

 

[dandave]

DH was told that while Priority Mail certainly wouldn't get it there in 2-3 days, that it would get it there faster than PP. He mailed it out the base post office.

edited to add: I just called him at work to get that answer.

 

[nativetxn]

One of the clerks at the post office told me if I sent it priority mail, it should reach the marine and/or soldier in 12 days as opposed to 28 days. So that's what I do. I may just be enriching the post office but that's okay, that's patriotic too

 

[WendyZ]

I sent mine today also!!! Yes, it did feel awesome. It's the first time I've done anything like that. Kind of cool. I think I'll start my second package. I wrote a short letter also. That was hard for me, especially not knowing the person. Just letting him know that we support every and their in our prayers.
My sons room at school has sent out two boxes also. The teacher also has the 4th and 5th grade doing it. She's awesome!

Feels good to help out!

I was surprise too, what it cost me to send it. I thought for sure over $20 and it was $9.80. I was like, yes this is great! My box was kind of large and I loaded it up. Wish I would of thought to see how much it weighed (sp?).

 

[jenjie]

I took my kids shopping for goodies tonight. What fun! I could not control myself. I have promises of help from 2 sil's and still kept piling stuff into my cart. I know I spent over $50.00. The stuff won't fit into the box I have so I'll probably end up splitting everything up into 2 shipments.

Thanks to you folks here (especially Patty) for giving the rest of us this tangible way to support our troops.

Here's what I have so far:

8 pack individual bagged potato chips
8 pack individual pretzel sticks
variety pack single serve cereal boxes
variety pack single serve cookies - oreos, nutter butter, chips ahoy
rice krispie treats
4 pack snack size chocolate pudding
4 pack snack size vanilla pudding
4 pack snack size jello
(4) single-serve tuna salad with crackers
Lipton quick brew iced tea bags
multi-pack mint lifesavers
multi-pack trident bubble gum

Dove facial cleansing cloths
Cottonelle wipes & refill pack
trial size toothpaste & toothbrush
Colgate gum
deodorant

Plus one beanie baby prayer bear, as a daily reminder we are praying for her.

My female military person is in the thick of things. Her mom says they have no access to heating elements so I didn't bother with coffee or soups.

I will have my kids draw pictures for her. My 4 y.o. son loves to make up songs. I asked him to make up a song for her. "She keeps us safe. She loves us, oh she loves us, she loves us, she loves us. She keeps us safe, we love her, we love her, we love her too." All I told my kids was that the soldiers keep us safe just like the police do, and that we need to pray that they will be safe and that they will do a good job.

 

[Pembo]

WOW Jesw! Sounds like you are going to make one Marine and his unit VERY happy! I've heard from AJ (my Marine) and he said that the guys have rec'd some mail from DIS'ers and that I'm pretty popular for getting them all adopted.

Thanks in advance.........

 

[JESW]

Pembo.....in my letter I did say - "and I was told to say hi from AJ's aunt Barb" (what you had said in the pm) I didn't quite know how to explain the DIS

Jill

 

[jenjie]

My first package was mailed today! It felt so good to get it off in the mail. I asked about priortiy mail. My package only weighed 4 pounds so it would have only cost 82 cents more for PM but she said it wasn't necessary. It goes straight to the military base, and I guess the holdup comes there or after.

I picked up 3 priority mail boxes, and got some brown Kraft paper at the dollar store to wrap them in. I have plans with SIL's to assemble some more boxes on Thursday.

Did you know that you can deduct your contributions on your taxes? I just learned that.

 

[nativetxn]

I didn't know that. Rats, I didn't keep my receipts. Oh well, I'll save the rest.

Jenjie, you don't need to wrap the boxes anymore. In fact, I understand they prefer the box not be wrapped in paper because somethings the paper gets caught in the machinery.

Just tape your box closed.

Katholyn

 

[cgcw]

Originally posted by jenjie
Did you know that you can deduct your contributions on your taxes?

I didn't know this either. It might be a good "selling" point to our scout group (that's tonights meeting). I'll mention it.

For me, though, I get much more out of sending packages than I will ever be able to deduct on our taxes. It makes me feel good and in a small way, like I'm helping.

 

[jenjie]

That's a good thought, Katholyn, but I'm using a Priority Mail box but not sending it Priority Mail. Is that a bad thing? I'm not having much luck coming up with boxes so I thought using the PM boxes provided by the post office would be a good idea. But if I can save a few dollars by sending it via regular mail...

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

Jenjie - If you have a Staples or Office Max near by try there. I have picked up a variety of boxes there and the prices are less than the priority mail boxes. Just when assembling them make sure you fold the flap with the bar code to the inside so it doesn't get scanned by the postal service and misdirect the package.

cgcw - Not sure if your Scouts are boys or girls but my Girl Scout troop is busily engaged in this project. The troop would not be able to take the tax deduction since they don't file a tax return. The service is the issue. However, this might help persuade parents to pickup the postage so any troop funds used can be stretched further in actually filling the care packages.

Deb

 

[cgcw]

Originally posted by FantasticDisFamily
cgcw - Not sure if your Scouts are boys or girls but my Girl Scout troop is busily engaged in this project. The troop would not be able to take the tax deduction since they don't file a tax return.

Deb,

We are cub scouts. When I read about the tax donation, my thought was to sell this to the parents so maybe they will give more in the way of donations because they are able to get something back tax wise. The parents should be able to claim this portion, correct?

Our postage will be picked up by the pack. It seems like our pack is not anxious to contribute to causes and I was hoping this might otherwise persuade people to help out. That's one of the big things that bothers me about our pack -- it doesn't seem like there is a lot of community service/give to the needy. And, that's what I was looking to get out of it for the boys in my pack. I know our den is very giving and I think presented in the right way, our pack could too. Anyway, that's another story.

Thanks for any help.

Cindy

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

Hey Cindy,

I'm no tax expert but that would make sense to me. I remember my days as pack chair when DS was at that stage. We found the boys were always pretty willing to include service but we had to "train" some parents. Too bad it is that way.

Good luck!
Deb