Some Tips on Shipping

Greetings Bakers!
Fran here....thought I would drop in for a minute to pass this info on....
I was reading the Plain Dealer today and came across an article with some sweet tips about shipping to those in the military. Here is the link if you need some ideas.
I trust you all are having a wonderful beginning to a summer that is sure to fly by! Please know that your dedication is appreciated by so many. You may not get a note of thanks every time, but when you do, know that it represents a world of thanks from MANY others!
Love,
Fran!

What to Send

Our mission is to mainly send home-baked goods for our soldiers, but I am often asked what we can send if we have extra space or no time to bake (but still want to send something to our soldier to know they are appreciated).

Here are some suggestions: (Thanks Teresa!)

Playing Cards

Ziploc Bags (to keep personal items dry or sand-free)

Sunflower Seeds, Chewing Gum, Nuts

Spices (crushed red pepper, cayenne, salt, pepper)

Smoked canned sardines, oysters

Cereal /granola bars

Protein power/energy bars

Travel size tissues

Travel size antibacterial

Travel size sunscreen

Hot Cocoa Mix

Powdered drink mix/powdered gatorade

Foot powder

Hand warmers

Icy Hot Patches

Small skinny notebooks or writing paper

Dice

Magazines (non objectionable)

Crossword, Sudoku puzzle books

aa batteries

Ink pens/pencils

PLEASE BE AWARE-IF YOU PUT SOAP (OR SOMETHING LIKE IT) IN A BOX WITH BAKED GOODS- IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE BAKED GOODS WILL END UP SMELLING OR TASTING LIKE SOAP. MAKE SURE THESE ITEMS ARE WELL WRAPPED and SEPARATE.

Some Requests

from one of our bakers........

"Hi!

I spoke with Brent, who is my close friend and to whom we sent packages. He asked me first off to thank everyone who is baking and sending boxes to send to the troops. When I asked, he gave me the following list of things that really came in handy for the troops:

travel-sized toothpaste, deodorant, toothbrushes, etc

individually packed handiwipes and eye wash

jerky

packets or cans of tuna or chicken

gum, candy, etc

individually packed nuts, etc

cookies, of course

granola and granola bars

chapstick

i thought maybe sunscreen, though he didn't mention that

I hope that helps!

Thank you for all that you do,

Naomi"

Martha Gives Shipping Tips

How to Ship / FAQs

Here is a link for important info about packing and shipping, and the customs form (which will double as your shipping label). NOTE - in Box 10- if non-deliverable, check "redirect to address below" and add "any local chaplain".

Please use a FREE Military Flat Rate Large box- available from the Post office- also get a customs form while you are there. This box costs $11.95 to ship no matter the weight and is usually much less expensive than any other box.

Add a card, as you would to a pen pal! Also, on the mailing label include Operation Baking Gals along with your name and address in the "from" line. In addition to your customs mailing label, USPS asks that to soldier's name/address info also be written directly on the box.

Here are some more personal tips from a mom who sends goodies-"Most things such as cookies, muffins, cupcakes, loaf quickbreads, I use my Seal a Meal. I seal them as far as I can without smashing them. Then pack them in a box of styrofoam peanuts. Typical way of boxing them. Oh, I also FREEZE them first!! Just to make them last a few extra days. My son said he forgot about some muffins once for 3 weeks since they were out on a mission, and they were just as fresh as freshly baked! So I don't know if it was the Seal a Meal or not. But I would say just pack them as protected as possible. Don't bother to send anything chocolate as it will melt no matter how you try it.
With the seal a meal, everything somehow is compact and able to layer things easily. So that's how I do it. Without it, it'd be a lot of packing in layers of styrofoam wrappings
I freeze then after I seal them, that way I can stack them all up in the freezer to save space. I do a lot of baking on some days and process a bunch of stuff, and then when I send out a package I pull out whatever I have in there. I also seal and freeze things like Little Debbie treat, etc.
Oh, I also, eve though it's a lot more work, seal up like individual size package. Such as 6 cookies to a pack, or 2 muffins. So in case my son is passing something out or someone is there when he's opening a package, he can just toss them cookies, muffins without giving them ALL the goodies!."
Note- I used my food vac and sucked as much air out, before they started to smash. - but didn't freeze. Please remember to NOT send any pork products or meltables- chips in cookies seem to be ok at some times of the year, but when it is summer you may want to use candy coated chips as it gets quite HOT!