Altrusa Intl. has sent an expanded list of what can and cannot be sent to soldiers. 

  For your information:

          What CAN be sent to Soldiers

                    Now that your club has chosen a soldier to “adopt” you will want to know what can be sent to him or her.  The following is a list of items which may go overseas without a problem.  This is not an “all-inclusive” list and other things may go as well. Use your good judgment.   Add and delete as you choose, but be careful not to include any items on the “Do Not Send” list. 

Food/Drink Items                                                               Hygiene Items

Beef Jerky                                                               Toothpaste and Toothbrush

Nuts                                                                        Foot Powder

Pringle Chips                                                           Hand Sanitizer

Ramen Noodles                                                       Baby Wipes (Unscented/Sensitive

Krystal Light                                                               Skin – In case they are used a lot)

Power Aid                                                               Deodorant

Kool Aid Singles                                                      Gel Shaving Cream

Pop Tarts                                                                Kotex and Tampax

Lemonaide                                                              Multi Blade Razors

Granola Bars                                                           Sunblock                                  

Candy (Individually Wrapped)                                    Chapstick

Jelly Beans                                                             Icy/Hot Patches

Bubble Gum

Clothing/Accessories                                                                     Other Items

Undershirts                                                             Envelopes, Paper and Pens

T-Shirts (Brown)                                                       Batteries (C, A and Double A)

Boot Insoles                                                            Beanie Babies

Socks (Dark Green)                                                 Inflatable Pillow

                                                                              Silly String (Used to spray building

                                                                                To check for booby traps/trip wires)

                                                                              Puzzles, Cards, Dominoes

                                                                              Telephone Cards

                                                                              Magazines (People, Ladies Home

                                                                                Journal, Car & Truck Magazines

                                                                              Newspaper Articles (Especially Odd 

                                                                                Ones)

                                                                              Handheld Electronic Games

ALTRUSA SOS PROJECT:       What CANNOT be sent to Soldiers

                   The following is a list of items which CANNOT be sent to a soldier serving overseas:

No packages addressed to “Any Soldier”.  This is due to security reasons.  Packages must be addressed to individual soldiers or to a job title.

No pork or pork by-products.

No alcohol or items containing alcohol (Including mouthwash).

No pornography or sexual materials.

No obscene materials or horror comics.

No fireworks or explosives including firearms and ammunition.

No hazardous, flammable, toxic and/or radioactive substances.

No fruits, live plants and animals.

No batteries in Summer months.

No aerosols and other pressurized products.

No liquids in glass containers.

No perishable food products that spoil.

No electronic devices with battery installed.

No unauthorized political materials.

No religious material contrary to Islam in bulk quantities.

ALTRUSA SOS PROJECT:       Mailing Made Easy

Call 1-800-610-8734 and select Option 1.  Ask for “Military Kit”.  You will be mailed a kit to get you started.

• All packages sent to a soldier in a war zone use the USPS to get to the APO location in the US where packages are first scanned before being transferred to the APO system.  You cannot use UPS (United Parcel Service) to send a package.

• If your soldier is in Afghanistan , tell the Postal Worker that and get a reduction in mailing costs of $2.00 per package.
• Use USPS Form 2976A with a 2976E mailer envelope.

This information should be used:  Soldier’s Name, Unit’s Name, APO, AE, Zip Code , USA and shipping method is USPS – Priority Mail.

• Put your soldier’s name on the form 2976A to put outside the box, but ALSO put your Soldier’s name and address on the inside of the box as well.  This way, if your package goes array, they will know who it should be forwarded to for delivery.

• Check “GIFT” on the form instead of merchandise.  This will help to avoid potential duty import taxes.

• Underestimate the value of the box to discourage theft.

• When packing for your soldier, don’t mix food items with any hygiene or chemicals of any type. (Several weeks in transit at 120 degrees will result in deodorant-flavored cookies.)

• When packing liquid or gel items, remember to double bag these items.  One zip lock bag for the item to go into and another zip lock bag upside down over the item will create a safety net for the items in the event there is leakage.