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TIPS ON CARE PACKAGES and ADOPTING A SOLDIER WITH US
We need VOLUNTEERS to adopt troops- please consider this as you see all the guidance here of how to pack items- and what type of items we can send...
Adoption means:
- 1. You agree to a 6 month commitment.
- 2. You keep everything confidential including the address.
- 3. You agree to send 2 packages a month- they can be small...accompanied by 2 cards or letters.
- 4. You contact us and state the above and give us your address and contact info so that we can contact you at any time and we can monitor the adoption. Your information is never shared and kept strictly confidential as well. We do not even share it with the soldier unless you want us to do this.
- 5. Email adoptions@HomefrontHugs.com if you are ready to thank our heroes from the homefront !
Packing Care Packages and Obtaining Supplies
The number to USPS is : 1-800-ASK-USPS or 1-800-275-8777
The website is : www.usps.com
You can always order their care kit and it includes everything to begin a care package and the cheapest way to send items to APO or FPO addresses....
1. You can order (but only by phone at 1-800-610-8734,option #1)
" CARE KIT 04" with two sizes Priority boxes, labels, tape, envelopes, etc. These are NOT the "flat rate" boxes. Postage depends on weight. You get several of each size box, good when the "flat rate" just won't work.
COST of supplies: FREE
#2. You can also order the NEW "Flat Rate" boxes (mimimum 25). No matter the weight in these it's $8.95 postage. FINALLY !!!
COST of supplies: FREE
Most Requested Practical Items:
baby wipes,baby wipes,baby wipes
ziplock bags, vinyl and plastic
lip balm/chapstick
sunscreen (at least with SPF of 25)
Avon “Skin So Soft” (a super bug repellent)
eye drops
nasal spray
medicated creams especially for sunburns
Neosporin and waterproof bandages
Bengay for sore muscles
combs and brushes
toothpaste and toothbrushes
plastic travel cases for toothbrush and soap
deodorant (no aerosol spray)
razors
after shave lotion
lotion
Shower to Shower Powder
chapstick
bar soap
baby powder
VISINE eye drops
absorbent soft towels and washcloths
foot powder
cotton balls
liquid hand sanitizer
Bug Spray with Deet (non-aerosol)
nail files
socks
baseball hats and bandanas
Multi-vitamins
Lever 2000 body wipes
Small and Large Plastic Ziplock bags
(to keep the sand out which gets into everything)
Fly Swatter
Fly strips
Small Battery Powered Fans
blow-up pillows with pillowcase
(yes these exist!  )
 Most Requested Stress-Relief Items :
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PHONE CARDS - the MYSTERY IS SOLVED !
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The main need to include if you can in the 1st, 2nd and third ...etc... care package is phone cards please...
The online exchange sites, for example, www.aafes.com allows non-military members to purchase phone cards to send in care packages, or to send directly to the soldiers. This is safe and secure here to use this to supply the soldier's address as this is run by the Department of Defense. These are AT&T and are at a better rate than those from Wal-mart/Sams, etc. I believe the ratio on the cards from AAFES is 3 units = 1 minute, which is to be compared to Wal-marts of 10 units -
We've had a bunch of family members complaining b/c they purchased cards at Wal-mart and it said for example, 250 minutes..the soldiers , once they got over there only actually had 25 minutes to talk. ...but in a pinch this is okay too ! 
These cards can also be re-charged from over here. All the service member has to do is give their family member the info off the back with the 800 number and pin number and then the family member can call it and add units/minutes to the card.
Finally some clarification on phone cards !!
Time for the Happy Dance....sorry it took so long to figure this out for you !!
I do also know that those soldiers near a base - can recharge the AT&T phone cards there ...but only those by bases so ask once you hear from them....
Remember hearing your loved one's voice can make the time truly pass by faster and help ease the distance and especially help keep our families strong- nothing means more to a child waiting for Mom or Dad to call !!
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Tabasco sauce or a gourmet hot sauce
(makes those MRE's taste edible!)
disposable cameras
YoYos (send an extra few to share !)
footballs
hard candy
hard mints
Sweet-tarts
frisbees (glow-in-the-dark a favorite)
Protein bars
Chex Snack Mix
playing cards
granola bars
mixed nuts and dried fruit
pop tarts
Blowpop lollipops
Tootsie Pops
Little Debbie Snack Cakes
Homemade baked items w/out items like chocolate chips which may melt
Powderade
Powdered Drink packets
(The troops tell us Gatorade is sometimes too plentiful so send anything else !)
Crystal Light and Koolaid Powdered drink mix
Pretzels in a cannister
Pringles in a cannister
Slim Jims Individually Wrapped in a cannister
Tuna in a Vacuum Sealed Pouch
Popcorn or Microwave Products if Soldier has access to Microwave
Chex Mix
Dried Fruits
Condiments in Pouches like ketchup,mayo,relish or mustard
stamps, postcards,pens,stationery,envelopes,stickers
magazines,local papers,paperback books,comics
(anything that brings some humor! )
flashlights
mini battery fans
walkman with headsets and favorite cds
batteries for all of the above
phone cards, phone cards, phone cards
(AT&T phone cards please)
Yo-yos
Hackie-sacks
Squirt guns
jump ropes
stress balls
candles
Handheld computer games (include batteries)
DVDs
Music CDs
Travel Size Games
 Teddy bears small to medium size for Iraqi,Kuwaiti and Afghan children if soldier is stationed there (this helps build rapport and positive relations with the children- as our troops do so many good and under-reported deeds for the local communities.... )
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*** One tip - Let businesses where you go to shop know you are putting together care packages for our brave troops and they might just help you out with donations or discounts !
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Prohibited Items 
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No chocolate or items with chocolate pieces which could melt except between November and February
No pornographic materials
No pork products of any kind
No liquor
No cigarettes
No aerosol spray items
Nothing that leaks
No fresh fruit
No living plants or animals
No negativity-your mission is to keep them smiling !
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Final Packing Tips
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NEW SECURITY REQUIREMENT :
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: Mark all packages and envelopes with "Homefront Hugs" if you are a volunteer participating in one of our programs - it will help the units expedite delivery and contact us if there is any problem with delivery . It will also let other soldiers know where they can go for support ! We rarely do individual adoptions anymore but we are supporting our wounded and you can send care packages there. Just ask us how.
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1. Items that could leak or melt in zip leak proof bags
2. Use a small-medium sturdy corrugated box as free of markings as possible. Must be within size restrictions. It is better to send smaller boxes than one large box.
3. Use lots of newspapers, fill space with foam peanuts, bubble wrap, etc. to pack everything firmly in box.
4. Use strong packing or shipping tape and use it generously to go around box both ways.
5. If you want a reply, include letter with address on the inside of the box.
6. Finally, you will have to fill out a “Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note” found at the US Post Office and it will need to include ( tip: fill this out before you get there so pick up extras when you go):
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Brief list of items in box with value (undervalue if possible to prevent stealing)
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In upper left corner, write your complete return address so they know it's safe to open .
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In bottom left corner, please write:************
“If the person to whom this box is addressed has been redeployed, please give to chaplain to share with someone else"
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What is the cost of postage and what size boxes should we use?
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Postage is like mailing anything within the USA- you will be mailing it to a US address and thus just paying US postage and filling out the declaration form (found at the post office) as indicated in #6 above.The military then gets your package the rest of the way for free for you to our soldiers.
Please remember it is whatever is most convenient for you as the soldiers are so grateful for the support with so many needing a smile and hug from home...however small or big the goody boxes are.
OPERATION UNITED WARRIORS/ Helping us with a group adoption
Dear Friends,
We are pleased to announce our new mission to be added this year after a sincere request from some wonderful Warriors (a group of 14) who need support in the middle of an undisclosed location that happens to be quite sandy. The leader of this group was Major P who wrote me many emails first explaining the need for strict confidentiality and OPSEC and enclosed a photo of their pet camel that I will attach...just download it for a smile...We now have a new leader and our 9-11 families are adopting this group for the holidays !
We need you. Please share this with anyone.
If you can help us with packages sent every month, ... through Paypal...or a mailed check.the packages alone were $8.95 to mail . The contents included tons of goodies and snacks and magazines and DVDs they needed....and still do...we plan to keep them under our wing until they return home...
What is so special is they are from all over-one Australian, one British hero,one Army,one Navy,one Marine and one Air Force officer. United we stand.
This what Homefront Hugs is all about and we are proud to add them to our list of missions...
We have created their own logo and even have postcards for them made up for the children to write- if you want a stack- let me know.
Here is what we need...you can send us a Paypal donation or a check via mail....or just the items themselves:
Money to mail packages every month: $8.95 x 6 ( that is my goal per month to them)
sunlotion
sunglasses (they are all male- and said even cheap ones will do)
soft pillows
DVDs
music
headphones
CD players
blank cards for all events to write home about-birthdays,anniversaries,graduations,holidays...etc..
stationery
Slim WitkinneosporinJims/Beef Jerky
Munchies of all kinds
Drink Mixes..Crystal Light
Books
Magazines - used is fine if not too old( I did order about 7 magazine subscriptions for our troops for Operation Healing Angel too)
Catalogs
beef stew
soups
soap
toothpaste
shampoo
shaving cream
cologne
body lotion
postcards from your hometown and pictures of you- they do email back- so include emails...
chapstick/bandaids/
Motrin/Aleve/Aspirin
cookies (no chocolate due to melting)
anything homemade...pack well in foil and plastic
flashlights and batteries
plastic ziploc bags (large preferred)
frisbees (glow in the dark and regular)
soccer balls
yoyos
handheld video games
crossword books and Sudoko
small board and card games
candy of all sorts- especially hard candy and blow pops
licorice / especially Twizzlers
pens/stickers to send home to kids and loved ones
holiday decor (it is never too early)
flags of all countries and decor- to include Australia and Britain even small ones to put in cupcakes or sandwiches...to bring a smile...
humor in comics/joke books/DVDs
empty journals and pens
duct tape of all colors
water squirt guns for play
spices to make those MREs taste better
(these guys are nowhere near the accomadations some of our troops have)
Here are some of their words to us regarding the last package tehy just received today:
" We just got an outstanding package from The Kellermann's of Gulf Breeze
Florida. There is a really cool photo of their son (I think his name is
Ed) and his dog. We have decided to trade our camel for his dog.
Please send the dog in a box and we will mail you the camel in a wood
case. We will gladly send the camel in advance (he eats anything, so
you can just leave him in the yard).
The selection of DVDs is going to go a long way with everyone, we can
play them on our laptop computer. The boxes made it from Florida in
time for Fathers Day, so we are treating them like gifts and we have to
pick a movie for tonight (I'm voting for Wayne's World 2). We are going
to put our office name on the DVD and loan them to all the other groups
we meet to spread around the love.
We are having a very good Fathers day because of Home Front Hugs.
Major P "
This is a super project for summer too for your kids at home and for any organizations and as usual...Operation Healing Angel is still going strong too...and whatever you choose...everyone should have a volunteer card of their own and we will send them to you if you do not already...for every child too....
All donations for postage or the actual items needed as listed above can be sent to:
Homefront Hugs USA
Operation United Warriors
1449 tiger Lake Drive
Gulf Breeze, Florida 32563
We will ship them from here to our United Warriors as we have to maintain strict confidentiality of their location due to reasons you can safely assume and understand.
KEEP YOUR RECEIPTS. Our tax-id number is here and we are officially a non-profit organization....and for all your expenses to become tax-deductible after 6 years of volunteer work. God bless you all for your support !
We can always use help just for postage of supplies we send over...so here is a simple secure way:
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HELPING US WITH INDIVIDUAL ADOPTIONS
If you would prefer to adopt an individual soldier or a family waiting for a safe return...individually.... let us know- we need you now ! We have re-opened our adoption program as we have the staff now to run a larger program and have troops waiting to be adopted ! : Adoptions@HomefrontHugs.com
 
September 11, 2001. Never Forget.
2001 Trademark and Copyright- All rights reserved - Homefront Hugs USA
To contact us: info@HomefrontHugs.com
Homefront Hugs USA and its programs does not endorse any political party or candidate. We are here strictly to provide support and comfort to our service members,veterans and their families, regardless of political or religious affiliation. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, or politics in accordance with our United States constitution and in honor of our troops and veterans worldwide who come from all walks of life to serve our country with honor, great personal sacrifice and courage.
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