Hello women! I hope you know that your efforts to brighten the day of our troops serving overseas will be so deeply appreciated. These men and women really struggle with homesickness, especially during this time of the year. A little love from home goes a very long way in letting them know they are remembered, and appreciated.

My son is serving in the Marine Corps in Japan right now. We have friends also serving in Afghanistan.

I have found some helpful tips when sending baked goods. Small round, flat cookies stacked inside pringles cans with the securely taped lids travels very well. Brownies, breads, bars, fudge, candy, chocolate covered pretzels or oreos will travel well. Think of things that won't easily crumble. Cookies packed inside tins or tupperware will most likely arrive in good order.

For mailing the priority mail boxes are best, and shipping costs anywhere from 12-16 dollars for a med or large priority mail box.

When you take the box to the post office they will ask you to fill out a custom's declaration on the contents, since the box is going out of the country. I suggest getting box's in the mail by the end of Now or very early Dec to assure arrival in time for Christmas.

The guys really appreciate water enhancers like Mio and the single serving size packets of powder that can be added to a water bottle, if you are looking to something extra to the box.

Thank you again for getting your inner baker on and making the day of those who serve to keep our nation free. You are so awesome!

Colleen

I am very excited to be doing this and will get my recipes lined up so I can bake away.

I have a question? I know this may be weird

When you get the addresses is this going to be for a group or individuals. If it's individual is there a way to get a list of the people that aren't married etc. As we know that most often wives/husbands will send care packages and maybe there are people that don't get mail on a regular basis where this would mean the world to them. Just trying to reach the ones that have the least support in a sense.

Just a thought!!!

I love this idea and would like to remind my daughters that community service is important to keep this country United. Count us in !!

Really good point. The list of names I have provided to Larae are single marines, and you will notice most of them don't have much rank yet. SO I am hoping the packages can be mailed to the individual troops. These are the guys are truly are the loneliest, many are away from home for CHristmas, like my son, maybe for the first time in their life, or know the pain of being separated from loved ones at CHristmas in their second or third year of service.

I am very excited to be doing this and will get my recipes lined up so I can bake away.

I have a question? I know this may be weird

When you get the addresses is this going to be for a group or individuals. If it's individual is there a way to get a list of the people that aren't married etc. As we know that most often wives/husbands will send care packages and maybe there are people that don't get mail on a regular basis where this would mean the world to them. Just trying to reach the ones that have the least support in a sense.

Just a thought!!!

Hi guys, I think this is great. I would like to provide you with a small tidbit of information and OPSEC (Operations security)!

for security reasons, packages from strangers are usually not given to individual soldiers/marines/airmen/etc. If you are generic with the name/address, your package will most likely be rummaged through and may not make it to a particular individual. Make sure you have a full name and (real) return address on the package! OPSEC!

We have had it pounded into our heads not to accept packages from strangers. OPSEC!

Please, Please PLEASE do not publicly list names of our military men and women! Especially their rank and unit. KEEP THEM SAFE!! OPSEC!!!

The absolute best way to get a package to a military person or unit that is not family or friend (ie, stranger) is to arrange for it to be sent through an organization that sponsors said units. USO for example.

Thank you for supporting our military!!