??? For those who mail cards to the troops to mail...

[sunshineb]

My dh is in training for Iraq, in New Jersey. I have about 40 extra cards that I want to send for the guys there to send home for bdays, Valentines day, etc. I may end up making more, if time allows.
Anyway, what's the best way to send them?? I'd like to include stamped envelopes. Do I put the cards in the envelopes, or no, I'm thinking it'd be too hard to look at the card if they had to pull it out of the enve, but it'd be easier that way we could be assured every card had a stamped enve with it. I have a few extra index card boxes should I send them so dh could just place them somewhere?? Please give me tips as this is something I'd like to do as much as I can. Dh will be gone for 18 months and it's only been 3 weeks so far.

Thanks for your tips :-)
And if anyone has any extra cards, I'd appreciate them, but I'm not trying to take away from other efforts to send cards to the troops.
Thank you, Sunshine

[stamper4armyman]

Oh, please know I am sending hugs to you. I have a husband currently serving and I am sending things for his guys.

I am not sure if what you were saying is that you wanted to send each person their own indivual card. If it is a large number and you can put them together in one box it can be cheaper. The post office has a 1-800 number for families to get free flat rate boxes. The box is given free but the postal rate is 7.99. I send 241 cards at a time so it is cheaper for me.


If you meant putting a stamp for them to mail the cards home then please hesitate because they can mail home free up to a certain amout. I think it is 13 ounces but I may be off on the number.


I just finished V-Day photo accordian "thingies" and a card for them to send to someone (ie wife, mom) back here in the states.

[mackbrad]

I sent some cards to soldiers in Iraq through anysoldier.com and I put groups of cards in ziploc baggies ( I knew how many soldiers were in a particular unit through the website), because I figured the soldiers could reuse the bags to keep dirt and junk out of stuff they wanted to keep clean. I just sent over a box and the soldier in charge of his unit said they got everything fine. The soldiers in Iraq get free postage so I didn't have to worry about stamps. I'm not sure since your husband is in NJ what the policy is for postage. I think it is great that you are sending cards. It is probably nice to write on something other than white paper and for the person who receives the card from the soldier it is most likely a nice surprise to get a handmade card.

[nox1]

Another organization that may be happy to help you send your cards is http://www.adoptaplatoon.org/. I adopted a platoon at Christmas for the Stockings from Santa program. It was great to do something for the troops who couldn't be home for the holidays and I can't describe the feelings I had when the boxes got mailed out.

Good luck, whatever you do!
Michele

[Rox71]

If he is still in the states he'll probably need postage but any soldier already deployed doesn't need postage for cards or letters.

My box is the flat rate like already mentioned because it's the most for the money. I just walk in a pick them up in the post office and pay when it's shipped out. I do the same for the boxes I send to Keiki in Hawaii and have been told I saved as much as $12.00 once.

I plan to group them in categories of men, women, children and girl or boy. This will be faster for the soldier to find what he needs. You can put a divider right in the box and this is where old greeting cards can come in handy.
I�ve never done it but on the Keiki site it�s mentioned that one lady shrink wraps the entire contents of the box for water proofing. Good idea!

Always include an envelope and if you make your own make sure they have a way to seal it. Sticky tape or 'Lick and Stick' works fine (it comes in a bottle with a dauber top, found mine at Michael�s). Also if you make your own from wrapping paper make sure it�s not a shiny finish or the ink will smear, if so add a large mailing label to the front.
I would advice an extra piece of cardstock for between the card front and envelope for those with embellishments that stick up off the card. This prevents the envelope from being torn apart in sorting machines. Just a note on the c/s explaining how to use is helpful too.

I've gotten feed back from a soldier I sent to in Kuwait and there was nowhere to find cards or envelopes.
The soldiers really appreciate all the efforts we make for them to be able to send cards home to loved ones. So no matter how large the package they will be grateful for your efforts.