# Holiday goody drive for Airman and compatriots **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 8, 2005, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holiday-goody-drive-for-airman-and-compatriots/329985 "2005-11-08T00:11:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holiday-goody-drive-for-airman-and-compatriots/329985/1 "2005-11-08T00:11:16Z")
As most of y’all know, **Airman Doors** is currently deployed to the Middle East. He is expected to be there over the holidays, which he wasn’t really looking forward to. I was thinking that it might be a nice thing if we could get together to get some goodies and stuff to them. Since military mail is fairly slow, it’s got to be soon. I’m thinking along the lines of: Care packages Magazines (::looks at **twickster** :🙂 Small paperbacks (used are OK) That sort of thing. I don’t think any of this has to be HUGE; I don’t expect anyone to send enough for everyone. But if enough people participate, there will be enough. Anyone interested may e-mail me at pettirossa at gmail dot com. Robin ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holiday-goody-drive-for-airman-and-compatriots/329985/2 "2005-11-08T00:16:10Z")
E-mail sent. Does he need anything combat related, like sunscreen or toothpaste or anything? Is there anything that is not allowed? What date do you need the goodies by? ---
**Author:** ![Nic2004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/4491bb/32.png) [@Nic2004](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nic2004)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holiday-goody-drive-for-airman-and-compatriots/329985/3 "2005-11-08T00:27:02Z")
Email sent. Please let me know. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holiday-goody-drive-for-airman-and-compatriots/329985/4 "2005-11-08T00:28:26Z")
I don’t think he needs any hygiene stuff; they’ve got a BX there, but I’m not sure how well it’s stocked. The USPS [says](http://www.usps.com/holiday/militarydeadlines.htm?from=holidaysitedeadlines&page=militarydeadlines) parcel post must be mailed no later than Nov. 12. Robin ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holiday-goody-drive-for-airman-and-compatriots/329985/5 "2005-11-08T00:30:40Z")
Yikes! That’s not much time! Do you want us to send the stuff to you, or do you want to give us the address to send it ourselves? It’s been a while since Ivylad was in the Navy…I’ve forgotten how military mail works. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holiday-goody-drive-for-airman-and-compatriots/329985/6 "2005-11-08T00:33:02Z")
I know it’s not much time; the 12th is this Saturday. The military is no longer allowing packages to be addressed to “Any Servicemember”. I’ll send Airman’s address and packages will go to him. He can then pass them around. Robin ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holiday-goody-drive-for-airman-and-compatriots/329985/7 "2005-11-08T00:54:28Z")
Email Sent. This is a great idea. Thank you for letting us help out. Jim ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holiday-goody-drive-for-airman-and-compatriots/329985/8 "2005-11-08T00:59:56Z")
I can get some stuff out in the mail tomorrow or Wednesday at the latest. It probably won’t be a lot, but at least some stuff…I’m sending the e-mail right now. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holiday-goody-drive-for-airman-and-compatriots/329985/9 "2005-11-08T01:14:27Z")
I knew there was something I forgot… When you take these to the post office, don’t seal the box. You will have to fill out a customs form that is to go inside the box. Also, he cannot have alcohol or pornography. The Air Force is really specific on those two. Robin ---
**Author:** ![gardentraveler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gardentraveler/32/3576_2.png) [@gardentraveler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gardentraveler)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holiday-goody-drive-for-airman-and-compatriots/329985/10 "2005-11-08T01:16:28Z")
E-mail sent. Thanks for letting us help out. GT ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holiday-goody-drive-for-airman-and-compatriots/329985/11 "2005-11-08T01:29:47Z")
You know, I was just thinking of writing you to ask if he’d like anything. Email on its way. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holiday-goody-drive-for-airman-and-compatriots/329985/12 "2005-11-08T03:06:30Z")
> [@MsRobyn](#): > > Magazines (::looks at **twickster** :🙂 You have my email address – send me his address and I’ll get it a slew o’ mags out this week. ---
**Author:** ![5que](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/3bc359/32.png) [@5que](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5que)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holiday-goody-drive-for-airman-and-compatriots/329985/13 "2005-11-08T15:04:34Z")
> [@MsRobyn](#): > > Also, he cannot have alcohol or pornography. The Air Force is really specific on those two. I mean, we love the guy, but we’re not giving those away! (seriously, e-mail is on the way) ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Tiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Mama\_Tiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Tiger)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holiday-goody-drive-for-airman-and-compatriots/329985/14 "2005-11-08T15:17:44Z")
Email is on the way, **MsRobyn**. And there are also restrictions on religious-type holiday stuff – things for personal use are allowed, but no large quantities for distribution. ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holiday-goody-drive-for-airman-and-compatriots/329985/15 "2005-11-08T15:50:23Z")
What genres of paperbacks does he like? ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holiday-goody-drive-for-airman-and-compatriots/329985/16 "2005-11-08T17:07:25Z")
Is there any possibility he might want to become involved in [AnySoldier.com](http://www.anysoldier.com/index.cfm)? Whether Airman Doors can or not, this site has tons of guidelines for mailing things to soldiers, marines, airmen, sailors or coast guard. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holiday-goody-drive-for-airman-and-compatriots/329985/17 "2005-11-08T18:45:37Z")
> [@MsRobyn](#): > > Also, he cannot have alcohol or pornography. The Air Force is really specific on those two. And what constitutes porn can be subjective- when my brother was in Afghanistan, we didn’t send _Surfer_ or _Longboard_ mags because of the pics of bikini babes! Better safe than sorry… ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holiday-goody-drive-for-airman-and-compatriots/329985/18 "2005-11-08T19:11:48Z")
I got a box of 50 paperbacks into the mail. only $7.92 to ship. (about 21 pounds). They said it was no problem to seal it ahead of time and I grabbed a few extra Postage forms for bulk delivery. The paperbacks are mostly used and mostly Sci-Fi and Fantasy, but there are a few new ones and a maybe 15 that aren’t Sci-Fi/Fantasy. Would any sort of dry goods be appreciated? My sister used to pack me up a variety of stuff I couldn’t get on the ship. Things like instant soups. Ice tea mixes, apple sauce in the plastic containers, etc. Jim ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holiday-goody-drive-for-airman-and-compatriots/329985/19 "2005-11-08T21:48:13Z")
Robin - there’s no way I’m gonna be able to send anything tangible to you by this Saturday. But can I paypal you some cash to buy stuff (or help pay for shipping), or send you a check? ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holiday-goody-drive-for-airman-and-compatriots/329985/20 "2005-11-08T22:22:48Z")
> [@MsRobyn](#): > > I knew there was something I forgot… > > When you take these to the post office, don’t seal the box. You will have to fill out a customs form that is to go inside the box. I don’t think that’s quite correct. My “long form” customs forms on Iraq-bound packages have always gone in a plastic sleeve on the ouside of the box. Three different states, many different post offices. All my packages have been well-sealed before going to the PO for mailing, and I have never been asked to open one up. Unless something has changed recently, which is always possible. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holiday-goody-drive-for-airman-and-compatriots/329985.md?page=2)