Programs to Support U.S. Troops and Their Families:
Help Our Troops Call Home
Gifts from the Homefront
Operation Dear Abby
Shipping Care Packages to a Service Person You Know
Care Packages:
What Do the U.S. Forces Need
Packaging Requirements
Help Our Troops Call Home allows soldiers more than two hours of call time from call center locations in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait. Calling cards can be sent to "any service member" who is deployed or hospitalized. The cards are sold by other retailers, but the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES), who has partnered with the Red Cross, offers the best value with lower rates and connection charges. Each card costs $39.00. To order the 550-Unit Military Exchange Prepaid Phone Card call (800) 527-2345.
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Gifts from the Homefront is a safe alternative to traditional care packages that place unnecessary strain on the military mail system or jeopardize security. The certificates can be used for merchandise already stocked at any AAFES facility around the world, including more than 50 stores throughout central and southwest Asia. Gifts from the Homefront certificate can be purchased from AAFES and addressed to "any service member."
To order the certificates call (877) 770-4438.
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Operation Dear Abby which is the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Department of the Navy's Lifelines 2000 Services Network provides a private and secure online resource that will allow people to send a sailor, marine, soldier, airman, or coast guardsman a holiday greeting or message of support: The website is http://anyservicemember.navy.mil/About.html.
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Shipping a Care Package to a Service Person You Know
Care Kit 4
This is a special kit of the most-popular items ordered to send care packages to the troops. The kit contains packing materials, 10 boxes, 10 custom forms with envelopes, 10 "Mili-Pac" shipping envelopes which are specially printed to reflect the complexities of military mailing addresses, and a roll of Priority Mail tape.
To order the kit, call (800) 610-8734 and request Care Kit 4 (it will be shipped priority mail to arrive within a few days).
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Sending Items to our U.S. Troops Overseas:
The following items are needed on a continuing basis to help bring a touch of home to deployed U.S. forces:
Packaging Requirements:
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Help Our Troops Call Home
Gifts from the Homefront
Operation Dear Abby
Shipping Care Packages to a Service Person You Know
Care Packages:
What Do the U.S. Forces Need
Packaging Requirements
Help Our Troops Call Home allows soldiers more than two hours of call time from call center locations in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait. Calling cards can be sent to "any service member" who is deployed or hospitalized. The cards are sold by other retailers, but the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES), who has partnered with the Red Cross, offers the best value with lower rates and connection charges. Each card costs $39.00. To order the 550-Unit Military Exchange Prepaid Phone Card call (800) 527-2345.
Back to Top
Gifts from the Homefront is a safe alternative to traditional care packages that place unnecessary strain on the military mail system or jeopardize security. The certificates can be used for merchandise already stocked at any AAFES facility around the world, including more than 50 stores throughout central and southwest Asia. Gifts from the Homefront certificate can be purchased from AAFES and addressed to "any service member."
To order the certificates call (877) 770-4438.
Back to Top
Operation Dear Abby which is the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Department of the Navy's Lifelines 2000 Services Network provides a private and secure online resource that will allow people to send a sailor, marine, soldier, airman, or coast guardsman a holiday greeting or message of support: The website is http://anyservicemember.navy.mil/About.html.
Back to Top
Shipping a Care Package to a Service Person You Know
Care Kit 4
This is a special kit of the most-popular items ordered to send care packages to the troops. The kit contains packing materials, 10 boxes, 10 custom forms with envelopes, 10 "Mili-Pac" shipping envelopes which are specially printed to reflect the complexities of military mailing addresses, and a roll of Priority Mail tape.
To order the kit, call (800) 610-8734 and request Care Kit 4 (it will be shipped priority mail to arrive within a few days).
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Sending Items to our U.S. Troops Overseas:
The following items are needed on a continuing basis to help bring a touch of home to deployed U.S. forces:
- Individually wrapped pieces of hard candy (Twizzlers, Tootsie Rolls and Tootsie Roll Pops, Bubble Gum, Skittles, lollipops, Life Savers, Candy Sticks, Sweet Tarts, etc) No Home Made Items
- Chocolate bars and candies, Only During Cold Weather
- Microwave popcorn
- Peanuts, pretzels, and other snack foods
- Sweeetened Kool-Aid, Gatorade, and other sweetened drink mixes
- Coffee, sugar, creamer, tea bags, hot chocolate, hot cider
- Toiletry items such as shaving cream, razors, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and shower soap/gel
- Hand sanitizer, hand lotion (cannot contain alcohol)
- Wet wipes
- Sunscreen
- Wrap-around sunglasses
- Batteries (Assorted sizes)
- Blank greeting cards (birthday, anniversary, get well, miss you, Mother's Day, Father's Day, etc.)
- Videos, DVD's, music cd's, and cassettes (pack separately)
- Small board games such as Chess, Checkers, Dominoes, Parcheesi, Uno, Cribbage, Jigsaw puzzles and playing cards
- Recent paperback books (mysteries, action, drama, and science fiction are highly read)
- Puzzle books, comic books
- Holiday Decorations (St. Patrick's Day, Easter, Passover, Patriotic Holidays, etc.)
Packaging Requirements:
- Preferred box size is 18 x 12 x 10. This medium size box will help ensure proper packing and safe delivery. For feasible handling, weight should not exceed 45 lbs.
- Packages and boxes should be packed and taped securely. This means wrapping packing tape several times around the box, across and length-wise.
- Pack edible items in a separate box from liquids. Wrap well to minimize breakage.
- Pack liquids such as shampoo, lotion, and shaving cream in bubble wrap or Styrofoam balls, filling all the space so the items will not move around during transit. Secure bottle/container tops.
- Boxes MUST be shipped via the U.S. Postal Service. We recommend priority shipping, which takes 8-12 days; otherwise it will take approximately three weeks or longer for the station manager to receive your packages. Customs from that identify the contents and value of each package are required and can be obtained at your local post office for easy use while packing.
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Copyright © 2006 - American National Red Cross. All rights reserved.Web Site developed for the American Red Cross of Ottawa County by Brian Snyder.