Holiday gifts from home are a big morale boost for military service members stationed around the world. Selected Contract Postal Units (CPUs) are holding “Support Our Troops” events to assist anyone wanting to send care packages to men and women serving our country so far away from home.

CPUs provide a full range of postal services at Post Office prices with the exception of money orders. They are another way of extending services and making it more convenient to do business with the Postal Service. Letters and packages are picked up daily.

If you don’t personally know a soldier serving overseas you can find names and addresses through your church or workplace; or by logging onto www.anysoldier.com.

• Central Automotive CPU, 1738 Cumberland Highway, Corbin, KY: A program to honor the military will be held Nov. 10, 11 a.m. Packages destined for APO/FPO addresses should be mailed by Nov. 10, if you want them to arrive before Thanksgiving.
• Frame It Fast CPU, 3101 Blackiston Mills Road, New Albany, IN: A program honoring the military will be held Nov. 6, 11 a.m. Packages destined for APO/FPO addresses will be accepted for mailing until Nov. 6.
• Bluegrass Paint & Décor CPU, 3564 Springhurst Blvd, Louisville, KY: A program honoring the military will be held on Thursday, November 19 at 4:00 PM. Packages for this effort, destined for APO/FPO addresses will be accepted now through Nov. 20.
• Nuts & Bolts CPU, 1315 Winchester Road, Suite 331, Lexington, KY: A program honoring the military will be held on Nov. 11, 4 p.m. Packages destined for APO/FPO addresses will be accepted now through Nov. 11
• PIP Printing CPU, 433 Southland Drive, Lexington, KY: Packages destined for APO/FPO addresses will be accepted now through Nov. 11.

Tips on sending APO/FPO packages

• The address must include the soldier’s name.
• Seal liquid contents in a separate container after wrapping it in an absorbent material to protect the contents of your package.
• For packages weighing 1 lb. or more, fill out customs form 2976-A.
• Items that are aerosol, flammable (including hand sanitizer and anti-bacterial gel), corrosive or toxic can’t he mailed. This includes perfume, cologne, aftershave, hairspray and lighters, matches, butane; cleaning agents and detergents; fingernail polish and nail polish remover; and bug sprays.

Items often requested by military personnel

FOOD ITEMS: All food items must be appropriately sealed and prepackaged. Beef jerky, canned soups with pop top lids, canned fruit, and cereal, protein, granola and energy bars. Snacks including chips, cookies, crackers, dried fruit, cereal, gum and hard candy. Hot chocolate mix, instant coffee, creamer, juice boxes, Little Debbies, condiments, and microwavable macaroni and cheese, brownie mix and popcorn. Nuts, pudding cups, salad dressing and tea bags.

FUN-TIME MATERIALS: Soccer balls, baseballs, basketballs, volley balls and footballs. Batteries: AA, C, D and 9 volt. New Beanie Babies and stuffed animals, board games, playing cards, CD players with CDs, disposable cameras, DVDs (recorded from television shows are also welcome), stationary, pens, greeting cards to be sent back home, magazines, PlayStation or X-box with games, puzzle books, word find books and sewing kits.

TOILETRIES: Advil, Tylenol, cold/cough drops, sinus medicine, antacids, Neosporin and Imodium AD. Baby oil, baby powder, towels, black shoe polish, body wash, (triple wrap soap and pack it away from food items) and Chapstick. Clothes pins, contact lens cleaner, cotton balls, dental floss, disposable hand and feet warmers, dusting clothes, eye drops, eyeglass kits and insect repellent wipes. Powered laundry soap, fabric softener, air freshener, lotion and mirrors. Pepto Bismol, pillow with pillowcase, pocket size first-aid kit, Q-Tips, shampoo, sunglasses, sunscreen, toenail/fingernail clippers, toothpaste, toothbrushes and toothpicks.

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