Moms demonstrate ‘how to’ of Military Care Packages at the Johns Island Post Office
A Military Care Package mailing demonstration for the holidays is scheduled to take place at the Johns Island Post Office, 2860 Maybank Hwy. 29455, from 3-5 p.m. tomorrow, Wednesday, November 13, 2008. Postmaster Bonnie Rackley and Johns Island employees will welcome Martina Remington of non-profit AnySoldier.com as well as members of non-profit Tricounty Blue Star Mothers for the event.
Their purpose will be to highlight addressing and preparing Military Care Packages within Postal and military regulations so that a group from Christ-St. Paul’s Episcopal Church of Hollywood, SC, will be able to prepare a Military Care Package as a holiday service project.
Mail sent to overseas military addresses is charged only domestic mail prices. The domestic mail price for the largest Flat-Rate Priority Mail box is $12.95, but for packages to APO/FPO addresses overseas the price is reduced to only $10.95. Flat-Rate boxes are free at any Post Office, or can be ordered online at usps.com. Postage, labels and customs forms can be printed online any time using Click-N-Ship at https://sss-web.usps.com/cns/landing.do.
“Flat-Rate Priority Mail boxes offer the best bargain in holiday shipping,” said Rackley. “The contents can be any weight for one low rate. If it fits, it ships.”
The Postal Service continues to show its support by offering free Military Care Kits, designed specifically for military families sending packages overseas. The mailing kits can be ordered by phone by calling 1-800-610-8734 and asking for the Care Kit. Each kit includes two Priority Mail boxes, six Priority Mail Flat-Rate boxes, eight Priority Mail labels, one roll of Priority Mail tape and eight customs forms with envelopes.
“The best support for the troops this holiday season is a gift that’s on time, so mail before the deadline,” said Rackley. “The deadline for Parcel Post has passed, but more important dates lie ahead.”
To ensure delivery of holiday cards and packages by Dec. 25 to military APO/FPO addresses overseas, the Postal Service recommends that mail for service members be entered no later than the mailing dates listed below. Mail addressed to military post offices overseas is subject to certain conditions or restrictions regarding content, preparation and handling. APO/FPO addresses generally require customs forms. To see a table of active APO and FPO addresses and mailing restrictions by individual APO/FPO ZIP Codes, go to pe.usps.com and click “Postal Bulletins” in the left column. Select the current issue and look for the heading “Overseas Military Mail.”
Military Mail Addressed To |
Express Mail® Military Service (EMMS)1/ |
First-Class Mail® Letters/Cards |
Priority Mail® |
Parcel Airlift Mail (PAL) 2/ |
Space Available Mail (SAM) 3/ |
Parcel Post® |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
APO/FPO AE ZIPs 090-092 |
Dec 18 |
Dec 11 |
Dec 11 |
Dec 4 |
Nov 28 |
Nov 13 |
APO/FPO AE ZIP 093 |
N/A |
Dec 4 |
Dec 4 |
Dec 1 |
Nov 21 |
Nov 13 |
APO/FPO AE ZIPs 094-098 |
Dec 18 |
Dec 11 |
Dec 11 |
Dec 4 |
Nov 28 |
Nov 13 |
APO/FPO AA ZIPs 340 |
Dec 18 |
Dec 11 |
Dec 11 |
Dec 4 |
Nov 28 |
Nov 13 |
APO/FPO AP ZIPs 962-966 |
Dec 18 |
Dec 11 |
Dec 11 |
Dec 4 |
Nov 28 |
Nov 13 |
1/ EMMS: Express Mail Military Service is available to selected military post offices. Check with your local Post Office to determine if this service is available to your APO/FPO of address.
2/ PAL: PAL is a service that provides air transportation for parcels on a space-available basis. It is available for Parcel Post items not exceeding 30 pounds in weight or 60 inches in length and girth combined. The applicable PAL fee must be paid in addition to the regular surface rate of postage for each addressed piece sent by PAL service.
3/ SAM: SAM parcels are paid at the Parcel Post postage rate with maximum weight and size limits of 15 pounds and 60 inches in length and girth combined. SAM parcels are first transported domestically by surface and then to overseas destinations by air on a space-available basis.
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