We have our first soldier we are going to be supporting and the time for mailing is going to start next week the official dates are:
SEPTEMBER 28-OCTOBER 9.
I've posted some useful information called "Helpful Information" (I know, I'm creative) but read through it, it may answer a lot of your concerns or questions you have about the best way to ship goodies or what kind of goodies you should make the proper way to fill out forms, **YOU CAN DO IT ONLINE NOW**.
Let's kick off our first shipping right! Our first servicemember is Spc B. Cody Ray. A little bit about him: he is stationed in Afghanistan as a linguist and has been there since the end of June hoping to make it back 'home' to Germany by the end of January. He is recently married as of March 2009 and we actually have his wife in our group, Michelle. I'm not sure what Cody's favorite cookie is, but I guarantee you he is not TOO picky.
Just as a reminder ladies, DO NOT PUT RANK ON PACKAGES!!! I cannot stress this enough. Let me know if you have any questions on the custom forms or documents as well as dates. I'll send out a reminder next week to check on everyone and see how it's going. Also if anyone thinks we need to change the amount of time we have to ship out cookies let me know and we can. And of course if you have anyone you know that we should add to the list of service members let me know, I'm always wanting to build up the cadidates to send care packages to.
Good luck ladies, let the baking begin!!
Friday, September 25, 2009
Useful Information for packaging and baking
As we prepare to kick our group off I thought the following information might come in handy. Let me know if something doesn't make sense or if you have any questions.
Packaging cookies or homemade items: The best way I've heard of doing things is to use one of those cheap Ziplock Snap and Seal containers that measure about 12" x 6" x 4". Line the bottom of the container with 2-3 sheets of folded paper towels or napkins. Inside the fold that is going to be closest to the cookies, tuck a few pieces of apple peel. This is an old throwback to the days when Granddad was fighting in WWII and my grandmama would send goodies to him. I've tried the bread before and have received reports from "over there" that the bread has molded. Of course, that doesn't stop the men from eating what's under the molded bread... but let's try and prevent that from happening. Mmm, kay? We wouldn't want all your selfless, hard work to go to waste! Layer the cookies in a single layer, take another paper towel, fold it in half and tuck another little apple peel into the fold, repeat until you get to the top. At the top fold another 2-3 paper towels, again with a small piece of apple peel in the fold closest to the cookies. Tape the container shut, these boxes get thrown... so if you go through the paper towel trick and then tape the container shut, you're cookies are pretty much guaranteed to arrive safely.What kind of cookies to make:Make a cookie that makes you think of home. They don't need to be fancy: just simple, sweet and home baked. I tend to sway away from hard, crunchy cookies because the cookies loose a little oomph when mailed already. So- very simply, make a cookie that when you smell it... you think "home." Oh! and use real butter if you can afford it.
If you're interested in filling a box of just plain old goodies here are a few suggestions: Easy Mac, Granola, home made or purchased Trail mix, Packaged tuna (not canned), Crackers, Easy Cheese, Gum, Candy, things like Sweet Tarts, Mentos, Skittles, etc. (chocolate and gummies will melt) Mints, Chips, Dinty Moore, BEEF Jerky (absolutely NO pork products), Canned foods (no PORK and beans though), Crystal Light or Kool-Aide single serving packets
If you have questions about something you'd like to send and you're not sure about it comment to this post or email sistersinaprons@gmail.com and we'll help you out.
The easiest way to mail these goodies is by using flat rate boxes; even though they are going to an American post most of the time they still need a customs form. There are two of them, a big white one and a green square form. I know it seems like a hassle, but they really aren't that hard to complete. You can now fill them out online and print them before you go to the post office and I believe some post offices will come pick up your packages if you need them to.
**THE WEB ADDRESS TO FILL OUT ONLINE IS: https://webapps.usps.com/customsforms/#
**Some important things to note: Our group will be sending these boxes to people at least one person knows, but if you do not know them feel free to write a short note to them thanking them for their service or telling them why you've sent cookies. Most people over there really want a connection to home, meaning the States. Grab a couple postcards from your local city/state. Drop a line or two on the back of the postcard, maybe write your web address so the soldier/airmen/marine/seaman can check up on you and drop you a thank you. They like to say thanks. If nothing else they can use those post cards to write their family and loved ones so they have a more personal "I'm OK". **
Please, please, please do not send pork products (pork won't make it there, as this is an insult to the country these men are probably in).I hope this helps! If you have questions, please don't hesitate to ask me. I'd be more than happy to help.
Thanks for doing this for our men and women. You just don't know how this touches their hearts.
Let the baking begin!
Packaging cookies or homemade items: The best way I've heard of doing things is to use one of those cheap Ziplock Snap and Seal containers that measure about 12" x 6" x 4". Line the bottom of the container with 2-3 sheets of folded paper towels or napkins. Inside the fold that is going to be closest to the cookies, tuck a few pieces of apple peel. This is an old throwback to the days when Granddad was fighting in WWII and my grandmama would send goodies to him. I've tried the bread before and have received reports from "over there" that the bread has molded. Of course, that doesn't stop the men from eating what's under the molded bread... but let's try and prevent that from happening. Mmm, kay? We wouldn't want all your selfless, hard work to go to waste! Layer the cookies in a single layer, take another paper towel, fold it in half and tuck another little apple peel into the fold, repeat until you get to the top. At the top fold another 2-3 paper towels, again with a small piece of apple peel in the fold closest to the cookies. Tape the container shut, these boxes get thrown... so if you go through the paper towel trick and then tape the container shut, you're cookies are pretty much guaranteed to arrive safely.What kind of cookies to make:Make a cookie that makes you think of home. They don't need to be fancy: just simple, sweet and home baked. I tend to sway away from hard, crunchy cookies because the cookies loose a little oomph when mailed already. So- very simply, make a cookie that when you smell it... you think "home." Oh! and use real butter if you can afford it.
If you're interested in filling a box of just plain old goodies here are a few suggestions: Easy Mac, Granola, home made or purchased Trail mix, Packaged tuna (not canned), Crackers, Easy Cheese, Gum, Candy, things like Sweet Tarts, Mentos, Skittles, etc. (chocolate and gummies will melt) Mints, Chips, Dinty Moore, BEEF Jerky (absolutely NO pork products), Canned foods (no PORK and beans though), Crystal Light or Kool-Aide single serving packets
If you have questions about something you'd like to send and you're not sure about it comment to this post or email sistersinaprons@gmail.com and we'll help you out.
The easiest way to mail these goodies is by using flat rate boxes; even though they are going to an American post most of the time they still need a customs form. There are two of them, a big white one and a green square form. I know it seems like a hassle, but they really aren't that hard to complete. You can now fill them out online and print them before you go to the post office and I believe some post offices will come pick up your packages if you need them to.
**THE WEB ADDRESS TO FILL OUT ONLINE IS: https://webapps.usps.com/customsforms/#
**Some important things to note: Our group will be sending these boxes to people at least one person knows, but if you do not know them feel free to write a short note to them thanking them for their service or telling them why you've sent cookies. Most people over there really want a connection to home, meaning the States. Grab a couple postcards from your local city/state. Drop a line or two on the back of the postcard, maybe write your web address so the soldier/airmen/marine/seaman can check up on you and drop you a thank you. They like to say thanks. If nothing else they can use those post cards to write their family and loved ones so they have a more personal "I'm OK". **
Please, please, please do not send pork products (pork won't make it there, as this is an insult to the country these men are probably in).I hope this helps! If you have questions, please don't hesitate to ask me. I'd be more than happy to help.
Thanks for doing this for our men and women. You just don't know how this touches their hearts.
Let the baking begin!
Thursday, September 24, 2009
What we are all about
Sisters in Aprons is a new group that I thought would be a great thing to have around. The goal is to spread joy to service men and women, that serve us, while they are deployed to a foreign land. They can be relatives of someone, a friend or even a stranger to all of us; it really doesn't matter, we just want to say thanks!
Once a month we dedicate some time to baking a dozen (12) goodies, or more, and send them to deserving men and women in deployed or foreign locations. This group is open to anyone who wants to join, when it comes time to get some goodies out I'll send an email to the entire group letting you know who we will be sending to, an address and when the shipping dates will occur so they get all the goodies around the same time.
This is an open invitation to take pictures, post them, share any letters or thoughts you've received from those we've touched and let the joy spreading AND BAKING begin!
Once a month we dedicate some time to baking a dozen (12) goodies, or more, and send them to deserving men and women in deployed or foreign locations. This group is open to anyone who wants to join, when it comes time to get some goodies out I'll send an email to the entire group letting you know who we will be sending to, an address and when the shipping dates will occur so they get all the goodies around the same time.
This is an open invitation to take pictures, post them, share any letters or thoughts you've received from those we've touched and let the joy spreading AND BAKING begin!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)