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Mission Statement on OSOT Stationary Mission
Statement on OSOT Stationary with Donation Information Donate
to OSOT OSOT in Action & "Angel
Reporting System" Administrative Information & EIN Number Mending Spirits, One Stitch at at Time "Take A Troop to the Movies" Project Odds & Ends & other helpful information (this is continually updated so check back often) |
* Simply put ~ YOU and you ALONE have been entrusted with the names and mailing addresses of certain soldiers. You may enlist the support and aid of friends, neighbors and school associates to assist you in gathering "stuff" to send to the troops - you may even have them assist you in packing the boxes. HOWEVER, you personally must supervise the packing of each and every box. * You, and you alone must seal the box, prepare the mailing label and customs form, and affix the label to the box. You and you alone must deliver the box to the postal authorities. The box cannot leave your custody and control once it is packed. You, and you alone are responsible for that box - and for the safety of its contents. You and you alone are held accountable to ensure the privacy of the soldier. * You cannot divulge the name of the soldier - not even his/her first name. Yes, by all means, have your friends, coworkers and students write letters to include in the boxes – but the letters must be addressed to “Dear Soldier”. It is our responsibility to ensure not only the soldier’s safety, but also his privacy. * We cannot stress enough how important this is. Indeed, this entire program rests on your complete compliance with these rules. As a member of Operation Support Our Troops, you agreed to abide by the rules. They are simple. They were formed to ensure the safety of our troops. They were formulated to comply with the Federal Privacy Law. Failure to comply with the rules - even by one member - jeopardizes the entire program. * Remember, unless you are sending to your own son/daughter or other family member, you cannot send home baked goodies. (1) Method of shipping: priority v. parcel post: The decision whether to ship via parcel post or priority mail is a personal decision. Each member should be doing occasional "price checks" to determine which shipping method is best for them. Shipping charges are not only based on weight, but also on your distance from the destination. Accordingly, for those who live close to New York City (for APO addresses) or San Francisco (FPO addresses) you may find that parcel post is MUCH, MUCH cheaper, and more than off-sets the cost of the packing materials. You can estimate your shipping costs from the convenience of your own computer by going to http://postcalc.usps.gov/ . Please use the domestic calculator even though the boxes are eventually going overseas, as the APO and FPO zips are domestic. (2) Size and weight restrictions: The maximum sized box that you can send to an APO or FPO address (without incurring extra fees) is 72 inches ~ that's length plus circumference (width + height + width + height). The maximum weight you can send without incurring surcharges is 34 pounds. We have found that the moving company book sized box, or a box 18 x 12 x 12 is about the biggest you'll want to send. Anything bigger gets too cumbersome to move. 3) APO/FPO Restrictions for a more complete explanation of all APO / FPO restrictions, refer to the detailed information provided at http://www.usps.com/supportingourtroops/mailingrestrictions.htm The following comments answer most of our members questions: ..... * Form 2976-A (customs form) is required for all mail weighing 16 ounces or more. NOTE: It is perfectly fine to just state "snacks and personal care items" on the form. You need not list each item in the box, and indeed, you should not list high value items (such as toilet paper) lest they not make the trip to their intended recipient ;o( * Although there are specific restrictions for each five-digit Military Post Office ZIP Code™ (APO/FPO), generally, the following are prohibited in the region of Operation Iraqi Freedom: * Obscene articles (prints, paintings, cards, films, videotapes, etc). * Firearms of any type are prohibited in all classes of mail. See definitions of firearms in DMM C024.1.1C. This restriction does not apply to firearms mailed to or by official U.S. government agencies. * All alcoholic beverages, including those mailable under DMM C021, are prohibited. * Materials used in the production of alcoholic beverages (i.e., distilling material, hops, malts, yeast, etc.) are prohibited. *Coffee can be sent to Iraq and Afghanistan. It can, it has been, and it is MUCH appreciated. Postal Service lists deadlines for holiday mail to Middle East |