How do I send care packages to troops overseas
Emma Miller
Updated on April 04, 2026
The United States Postal Service (USPS) offers a free “Military Care Kit” with the necessary supplies for sending packages overseas, including boxes, packing tape and customs forms. Visit the USPS website to get your free kit, which will be shipped to you and arrive at your doorstep within 5 to 7 business days.
How do I send a military care package overseas?
- Check International and Country Specific Shipping Limitations. …
- Seal Everything. …
- Secure the Contents. …
- Pack it tight but Don’t Over Stuff the Boxes. …
- Select Sturdy Packaging.
How much does it cost to send military care packages?
The package costs $15.90 to send at retail, which is $2 less than the price for the same package if sent domestically. Stamps.com also will give you an additional discount of $2.10 off the USPS retail rate and free USPS Tracking, for items sent through Priority Mail.
Can you send care packages to soldiers overseas?
Military supporters can easily send care packages to deployed troops through the USO. There are multiple ways to send a care package to troops overseas. … By donating through USO Wishbook, you’ll be symbolically donating a care package to a service member in need of just a little comfort.What can I send to a military overseas package?
Necessities, such as sunblock, socks, underwear, flip-flops, lip balm and powder. Snacks, including chips, salsa, nuts, cookies, beef jerky, non-melting candy and trail mix in packaging that isn’t easily crushed. Drink mixes in single-serving packets are also a good addition.
What items Cannot be shipped to APO?
- Perishable goods.
- Oversized products over 70 pounds.
- Any obscene material, including pornographic items.
- Any political material.
- Pork (or any pork by-products)
- Family Radio Service (FRS) radios.
- FM transmitters.
- Cordless phones.
Where can I send care packages to deployed troops?
- AdoptaPlatoon Soldier Support Effort (BBB, GS)
- Any Soldier Inc. ( …
- Comfort for America’s Uniformed Services (CFC, GS)
- Eagle’s Watch Foundation (CFC, GS)
- For the Troops (GS, State of California Charity Registry)
- Forgotten Soldiers Outreach, Inc. ( …
- Hugs Project (The) (CFC, GS)
How do I donate military care packages?
MAKE A MONETARY DONATION Can’t attend a care package event but would like to support deployed troops? Make a donation via credit card, Venmo, Paypal or check. All donations are tax-deductible and help provide hygiene items, nutrition, cards, and wish list items for troops overseas. We need your help now more than ever!How do you send Christmas care packages to soldiers?
The best way to be sure is to contact the public affairs office for your local base. The USO offers several choices of gifts for purchase, including food packages, deployment kits and books they will ship to overseas bases. You can also submit a form requesting a care package that they will ship to service members.
How do I ship a care package?Seal up any liquids with waterproof bags, and tape up any open packets to make sure nothing spills out during transit. Pack your shipments tightly and snugly, but don’t overpack your boxes or envelopes – you just want to make sure things don’t shift around too much before your care package reaches your loved one(s).
Article first time published onCan you send care packages to deployed soldiers?
Where to Send your Care Package. Even if you don’t have family or friends overseas, you can still send a care package to a deployed soldier. The DOD has vetted and recommends the following non-profits: .
How do I get an APO box?
- Step 1: Search for Post Office locations near you using the search bar under “Reserve a New PO Box.”
- Step 2: Choose a Post Office location and make selections on your desired PO Box size and payment period.
- Step 3: Enter your contact and billing information to reserve your PO Box.
How can I send candy to troops overseas?
- Supportourtroops.org.
- Operationgratitude.com.
- Soldiersangels.org.
- Operationshoebox.com.
- Freedomalliance.org.
How do you address a military care package?
- Always start with a person’s full name. …
- Write the Address/Battalion/Brigade/Company/Squadron/Troop/Platoon or Box on the second line.
- Write the Unit and Base/Ship/Camp/Airfield/Duty Location if one is provided, on the third line.
- Write in APO or FPO for the City.
What does a care package consist of?
Coffee (or a gift card to a coffee shop) Water bottle. Healthy snacks like granola bars, dried fruit, mixed nuts or trail mix. Study supplies like notecards, highlighters, colored pens and sticky notes.
How do you send items to troops?
The United States Postal Service (USPS) offers a free “Military Care Kit” with the necessary supplies for sending packages overseas, including boxes, packing tape and customs forms. Visit the USPS website to get your free kit, which will be shipped to you and arrive at your doorstep within 5 to 7 business days.
How do you support troops in a care package?
Send a Care Package One way you can send a care package to deployed soldiers is by making a monetary donation to the USO to support the organization’s operations, which include sending care packages.
How do I send care packages to troops in Afghanistan?
- The best deal is Priority Mail Flat Rate APO large box (They are discounted)
- All packages going overseas must have a customs form.
- Priority mail, flat rate boxes and shipping supplies can be ordered free of charge at
- Use things like socks, hats or blankets to pad fragile goods.
Where do I put my customs form on a package?
Customs documents must be securely fastened to the outside of your box. This is so customs officers can check what is being sent and the value of the goods, to calculate how much duty may or may not be owed.
Does USPS deliver to APO addresses?
Unlike mail sent to a street address or post office, APO/FPO addresses have “AA,” “AE” or “AP” listed in the state category. Although other shipping services, such as FedEx and UPS, send packages to other countries where military forces are concentrated, only the USPS is able to send an item to an APO or FPO.
How can I donate to soldiers?
You can set up a CFC donation the old-fashioned way through a paper pledge or by logging into DFAS’ myPay and setting up an allotment specifically for the CFC so that your donation comes directly after your paycheck – easy and done. You can even donate to the aforementioned relief societies directly through myPay.
How do I send care packages to Marines overseas?
The United States Postal Service (USPS) has information on sending care packages overseas. They have a service that is very useful to military family and friends called the “Flat Rate”. Boxes are available from your local postal clerk, or on-line at USPS , or dial 1-800-222-1811.
What is the cheapest way to ship a care package?
Cheapest way to mail a package The USPS Priority Mail flat rate boxes are great for shipping heavier small items like clothes, toys, kitchenware, and any metal items. If your items are light consider using your own packaging and using Retail Ground or first class mail if the item is under 15 ounces.
How can I send care packages for free?
But what families might not know is that the United States Postal Service (USPS) offers free shipping supplies to send those care packages. Customs forms and envelopes to attach the forms to the package. And it’s all free of charge!
How do you send mail to a military base?
- The full name of the addressee. Mail sent without a full name will not be delivered.
- The unit or Post Office box number.
- A three letter code associated with the type of location. APO is used for Army and Air Force installations. …
- The “state” of the addressee.
Is APO box free?
The Postal Service offers no-fee post office (PO) box service to customers who do not receive any form of carrier delivery. Customers apply for the no-fee PO box service by completing an application and providing identification to a Postal Service employee.
Is shipping to APO free?
You can order free Priority Mail® APO/FPO Large Flat Rate Boxes online from The Postal Store®, and your mail carrier will deliver them to right to your door at no charge.
What carriers ship to APO addresses?
Only USPS can deliver the actual packages to APO addresses. Although other shipping services such as FedEx and UPS send packages to other countries where military forces are concentrated, USPS is the only entity that can actually deliver them to APO, FPO, and DPO addresses due to governmental security reasons.
How do I send candy to the troops?
Soldiers’ Angels distributes the candy to deployed troops, veterans, and wounded veterans in VA Hospitals. Through Operation Gratitude you can be matched with a local military unit, first responder department or veteran organization OR ship your candy to Operation Gratitude.
Where can I drop off candy for troops?
There are multiple organizations that will accept unopened candy. There are at least two programs where you can donate your candy to troops serving abroad: Treats for Troops and Operation Gratitude. You can also contact local charities and food banks to see if they accept unopened candy as well.
Do food banks take candy?
Though food bank staff might slip treats into donation bags on occasion, many locations are asking donors to steer clear of the sweets so that families in need have plenty of nutritious goods to take home.