Packing Tips (and Gift in Kind Donation Form) for Our Special Friends and Supporters
We can no longer accept goods for shipping unless accompanied by a completely filled out Gift in Kind (GiK) form. You MUST FILL OUT a GiK form if you are dropping items off. Goods received without a completed GiK form will be turned away. You can pre-email the form or print one out and have it accompany the donation. Sorry this is for records and control purposes. If you do not have a form CLICK HERE!
Here's a list of items currently (Nov 2010) recommended for some units in AFG:
Peanut M&Ms (individual packets) and Large bags to fill M&M
dispensers, Socks, Razors, Chewing gum, Small toiletry products
(deodorants, shampoos, shower gels, AXE products, etc), Phone cards,
Hard candies, Peanuts, Raw Almonds, Popcorn, Oreo cookies, Cheez Its,
Snack bars/raisin snack boxes, Any chocolates, Hot chocolate, Small toys
like toy race cars, Letters from the Home Front, Any Chips
CLICK HERE for latest list for 1st ID (as of 8-3-11)
CLICK HERE for latest list for Camp Spann, AFG
CLICK HERE for latest list of items suggested for Marines in Afghanistan (as of 8-11-10).
CLICK HERE for list of supplies you can get for various units and local children.
We've been asked for some tips on how to pack for our troops. Here are some hints:
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| Start with a good sturdy cardboard box. Using heavy duty packing tape, seal both ends and put a good layer along the bottom seam. |
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| Put a layer of bubble wrap along the bottom of the box to cushion your load. |
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| Put your solid, heavier items along the perimeter to add integrity to the box and protect the items inside. Here we have a pack of Lever2000 soap and a box of zip-loc bags. |
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| Here we continue to bolster the perimeter to keep the integrity of the box by adding cookies, tissues, Q-Tips and snacks. |
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| Once you have the perimeter supported it allows you to put various items in the middle, including more fragile items. Here we have some peanuts, some candy and some lotions and shampoo, which we have put in heavy duty zip-loc bag. This makes sure that if a bottle opens or spills or cracks, it will not mess up your entire package. |
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| Here we add more items in zip-loc bags. These are food items that might open or break. Plus the zip-loc bags provide additional cushioning because of the air inside, bringing more protection to items in the box. |
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| When your carton is packed properly and you can fold the box shut and it seems just about full, add a piece of bubble wrap on top for protection. If you don't have bubble wrap, you can also use cardboard to make a nice top for the package. Now you're ready to close the box and seal it. |
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| When the box is closed, use the clear heavy duty packing tape to seal off the ends and put a layer over the seam, just like you did on the bottom. Then get out the nylon strapping tape (we use 1.5 inch wide). Take the nylon tape and make a complete rotation on the seams, from the top around to the bottom so there is one continuous ring of tape around the box. Then take the nylon tape and go across the middle of the box and again go completely around the box. The nylon tape will add integrity to the box and make it stronger. Don't forget, this is going to the other side of our planet and the stronger you make the box the better. Nylon tape is also good to cover any holes in the box. You can even add nylon tape where you think you need it. (The tape is expensive, around $8 a roll, but it's worth it if the box arrives in good condition! The finishing touch is use a Sharpie to make "Up" arrows on each side of the box so the postal handlers know how the box should sit. Then put your label on top. Cover the label with clear heavy packing tape so it doesn't get damaged by weather. |
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