Free Military Care Packages And Shipping Supplies For Deployed Service Members

Military families and deployed service members have access to several no-cost programs that provide care packages, shipping supplies, and specialized support items. These initiatives are designed to boost morale, provide essential goods, and ease the financial burden of sending items to service members stationed overseas or in remote locations. The available programs range from official postal service shipping supplies to comprehensive care packages containing toiletries, snacks, holiday decorations, and even equipment for unit gatherings.

The United States Postal Service (USPS) offers a specific Military Care Kit to help families ship packages to service members at APO/FPO addresses. This kit is provided free of charge and includes a selection of Priority Mail boxes, tape, address labels, and customs forms envelopes. The kit is shipped directly to the requester's home at no cost, with standard delivery taking two to five business days. While expedited shipping is available for a fee, the standard provision of supplies is entirely free.

Separate from shipping supplies, several organizations provide fully stocked care packages for deployed troops. The USO (United Service Organizations) operates a Care Package Program that allows service members to request up to 1,000 care packages for their unit, depending on size and need. There are no rank requirements to receive these packages. The USO offers several types of care packages: - Toiletry packages: Contain items such as toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, soap, and razors. - Female Toiletry packages: Include toothbrushes, shampoo, conditioner, razors, sanitary pads, tampons, hair ties, and similar items. - Snack packages: Contain energy-boosting snacks, drink mixes, and other snacks difficult to access while overseas. - Holiday packages: Include socks, beanies, hand warmers, candy, instant coffee, and a holiday card with a note of support.

All standard, toiletry, and snack packages from the USO are packaged in reusable canvas bags featuring a MOLLE system on the back, allowing service members to attach the bag to military-issued gear. The program aims to provide American snacks and toiletries that are hard to find while stationed far from home, serving as a reminder of home.

Soldiers' Angels provides a comprehensive support system for deployed service members and their families. They offer several distinct support streams for registered deployed service members: - Homemade Baked Goodies: A monthly care package of home-baked goods tailored to specific needs or wants. - Support for Deployed Chaplains: Monthly letters, cards, and care packages, along with monthly care packages designed to support those in theater. These include appreciation letters, humanitarian needs, religious items, and options for special projects to support holidays. - Special Operations Forces Support: Monthly letters, cards, and care packages specifically geared toward the unique needs of Special Operation Forces service members. - Support for Expectant Spouses: Virtual baby showers tailored to the family's needs for an upcoming child. - Holiday Support for Families: Seasonal support for deployed families if a deployment extends through December 25th. This includes gifts for each child and a grocery gift card for the family’s holiday meal. Eligibility for this specific support is restricted based on rank and income.

Additionally, Soldiers' Angels offers a "Quick Morale Boost" by allowing service members or family members to request a card for birthdays or general morale needs, without requiring full registration for deployed support.

Just Our Soldiers' Helpers (JOSH) is another organization dedicated to increasing the morale of deployed U.S. service members from all branches. Their mission is to provide care packages containing name-brand items not readily available during deployment. They ship to service members in remote foreign locations with limited access to exchanges (PX/BX) for hygiene products, food, and snacks, as well as to Chaplains and those who might not otherwise receive mail. JOSH prepares and ships high-quality snacks, food, and hygiene products. While the organization originally planned to conclude operations by the end of 2024, they continue to ship on an as-needed basis until funds are exhausted, with an expected completion date of December 2025. As they wind down, they no longer host packing events.

A variety of specialized and themed packages are available through other programs, often targeting specific unit needs or events. These programs frequently focus on providing items for unit gatherings, morale events, and specific holiday observances.

Chaps Cookouts and BBQ Packages Several programs focus on providing equipment and food for outdoor cooking events, which are often used by Chaplains to build rapport with soldiers after field exercises. These events express gratitude and help soldiers feel that someone from home cares about their situation and sacrifice. - Brats and BBQ Packages: These include items such as Brats (over 3,000 served), premium condiments (special hot sauce, seasonings), portable grills, and BBQ equipment. Some packages also include portable outdoor speakers. The budget for these packages can reach up to $1,000 per unit requested. - Roberto’s Brats and BBQ and Fellowship Package: Similar to the general Brats and BBQ packages, this program addresses the need for soldiers to unwind and connect. It emphasizes the role of Chaplains in handing out food and expressing gratitude.

Coffee and Roasting Kits Recognizing that military life runs on coffee but quality is often poor and funds are limited, specific programs provide high-quality coffee to facilitate conversation and strengthen relationships. - The Soldiers Roast: This program sends unroasted coffee beans to be roasted with soldiers and their families, either at home or with deployed members. It promotes healthy relationships and helps spouses cope while deployed. Items sent include 255 5lb bags of premium Honduran San Lazaro Coffee and roasting equipment. A unit can receive up to 3,500 per unit supported. - Roberto’s Holy Joe and Soldiers Coffee Roast: This initiative provides higher quality coffee during field exercises, Strong Bonds seminars, or in the Chaplains Office. It facilitates conversation and helps prevent serious issues by strengthening relationships. The cost for coffee is approximately $165 for 3 5lb bags including shipping.

Entertainment and Ministry Kits To address the challenge of soldiers having nowhere to unwind, especially during COVID-19 when gyms and USOs were shut down, kits are provided to Chaplains for personal interaction. - Roberto’s Movie Night and Ministry Kits: These kits provide a setting for Chaplains to meet soldiers where they are. Items sent include portable wireless projectors, indoor/outdoor movie screens, DVD players and DVDs, sound bars, and Nintendo or other board games. The cost is up to $1,500 per kit per unit requested.

Holiday and Event Decorations Programs also provide decorations for various military holidays and events to boost morale and provide a sense of normalcy and celebration. - Holiday and Military Events: Items include Christmas decorations (ornaments, notes from kids, Christmas cards, pine tree scents, strings of lights, banners, presents for the troops), July 4th pendants and flags, and assorted decorations for Thanksgiving and Military Events (e.g., USMC Birthday). - Other Event Support: Includes hand and foot warmers, high-quality socks, and Chapel needs such as praise banners, communion table cloths, and Bibles. - Cost: Typically, 15 to 20 packages are sent per unit. The average cost per package is approximately $50. Most units receive at least 15 to 20 packages of various items, totaling $750 to $1,000 per unit requested.

New Baby Kits To support soldiers returning stateside to a new baby, relieving financial stress and bringing joy, New Baby Kits are available. - Items Sent: Everything a new mom and dad would need. - Cost: $3,300 per unit/request; 30 kits per unit.

Holy Smokes (Cigars) To provide a way for soldiers to unwind, reflect, and invite conversation, cigar packages are available. - Items Sent: Almost 4,000 cigars. - Cost: Up to $800 per unit requested.

Hand and Foot Warmers and Socks High-quality socks, hand warmers, and foot warmers are frequently included in care packages to address the physical discomfort of deployment in various climates.

Chapel Needs Specific items are provided to support Chapel services and religious activities. These include praise banners, communion table cloths, and Bibles.

The availability of these free supplies and packages varies by organization. Some, like JOSH, are winding down operations but continue to ship until funds are exhausted. Others, such as the USO and Soldiers' Angels, appear to have ongoing programs. The USPS Military Care Kit is a standing offer available through the USPS website.

Eligibility for these programs generally requires the recipient to be a deployed service member, often with an APO/FPO address. Some programs, like Soldiers' Angels' Holiday Support for Families, have specific eligibility restrictions based on rank and income. For the USO program, service members can request packages for their unit by providing a military shipping address, with no rank requirement. Chaplains are also a frequent recipient of support packages from various organizations.

Requesting these items typically involves visiting the respective organization's website. For the USPS, one must visit the online store to order the free Military Care Kit. For organizations like Soldiers' Angels, Just Our Soldiers' Helpers, and the USO, the process involves visiting their websites to register or request support. Specific instructions for requesting cards or registering for deployed support are available on the Soldiers' Angels website.

Conclusion

A variety of free resources exist to support deployed U.S. service members and their families. The USPS provides essential free shipping supplies for sending care packages, while organizations such as the USO, Soldiers' Angels, and Just Our Soldiers' Helpers offer fully stocked care packages containing toiletries, snacks, holiday items, and specialized equipment for morale events. These programs address specific needs ranging from basic hygiene and nutrition to emotional support for service members and their families, including expectant spouses and families celebrating holidays during deployment. Access to these resources generally requires registration or direct request through the respective organizations' official websites.

Sources

1. Military.com - How to Get Free Supplies to Ship Care Packages
2. Opdeployed.org - Packages
3. Just Our Soldiers' Helpers
4. Soldiers' Angels - Deployed Support
5. USO - Care Package Program