Sending Treats to the Troops

I would like to send cookies to one of our church members serving in Iraq, and was wondering if anyone knew:  how long does it take for a package to get there? If I send home made cookies would they still be eatable when they arrived?

Thanks

I don't have any idea how long it takes...hopefully someone else can answer that.  I would vacuum seal the cookies.  The new Handi-Vac sealers (cost less than $9 at WalMart) are terrific!  It uses quart or gallon Ziploc-type bags. You could put a single layer in a gallon bag and vac just to remove most of the air.  If the cookies are soft and you take out too much air, they would be smashed.  I know one lady on another post said she sends goodies to Iraq using the Handi-Vac bags and the guys said they were just like fresh-baked. 

Jenita

I was told not to make cookies as they worry about bugs a lot.  I'm guessing if you were able to seal them via a vacuum seal that would solve the problem tho.

I included wet wipes, some candies, and personal things I knew the young man liked.

Priority mail will take about a week. First class mail used to take three weeks but that was years ago so don't know if it has speeded up or not. My son is back in Iraq as of Christmas time for his second tour there. His first tour I sent cookies all the time and he never said he had a problem with bugs, in fact he asked for them. A Food Saver bag would be a good idea but I didn't have one then so just used a zip lock bag and inserted a slice of bread to help keep them fresh. Be sure and wrap them securely like with bubble wrap to keep from breaking. If you send breads...pumpkin, zuchini, ect.....be sure and solidly freeze first before using the food saver or they will squish up. You can pick up the priority mail boxes at the post office....they have different sizes and shapes. Fill the box and take it back to the p.o. Depending on the size box you will pay a flat rate regardless of size. I sent one the other day and it was just under $9.

Thank you for remembering our troops. I'm sure your friend will greatly appreciate anything you send.

Elizabeth

My son in law is also in Iraq for his second time and has never complained about the bugs in the homemade cookies. I too wrap them individually and then put them in a zip loc bag with a slice of bread. I usually freeze them and put them in box just before sending. They stay fresh a little bit longer. Packages that are sent priority mail arrive in about a week. Thank you for remembering our troops. I know my son in law is so happy to get any mail and especially homemade goodies from home. Jeanette Wenzel

Correction....I should have said....you will pay a flat rate regardless of weight.

Elizabeth

I have been sending cookies for over a year now. Pick recipes that are shortening based, they stay fresher longer. Also choose "sturdy " recipes, like oatmeal, gingersnaps. Cookies that don't break easily. I buy the old sandwich style bags, that had the flap that folds over. Get 3-4 cookies per bag, get all the air out, then tie off with a bread twistie, or ribbon. You don't want the cookies to slide and rattle around. Then put several of these bags in a small box.  I don't use the flat rate boxes, just not much room in them. I save all kinds of small boxes, tins, oatmeal containers, anything to put the bags of cookies in, to keep them from being smashed. Peanut brittle always makes the trip successfully. I also send peanut butter and cracker packages, non melting candy, some hunting, fishing magazines.  It takes me at least a hour to get a box ready to go, but that's ok. Girl scout cookies go on sale soon, I also send those.

Good luck, it's a great thing you are doing. I sleep better at night knowing some tough men and women are keeping watch over this country.

Patrice

Lots of good advice from Patrice and Elizabeth, who are veterans at doing this.    I'm on my fourth year now.  The time in delivery depends a lot of where the soldier is stationed.  Much of mine has been in eastern Iraq, near the Iranian border, so sometimes has been 14 days. Usually about 10, though. I'm the one who has been using the Reynolds Handi Vac and it works great!  I sent cookies and loaves of pumpkin bread the last time and the guys said it all was very fresh.  They love the canned cream cheese icing to spread over these treats. I'm finding that the cookies made with cake mix will stay the freshest, and there are so many kinds you can make from the mixes. 

One thing that I can guarantee - they will love you for doing this and will love whatever you send!Patrice, MAJ Max still remembers you for what you did.

Carolyn

Thank you all for all of your suggestions/advice. I can now get ready to bake. I love making oatmeal raisin and sugar cookies, and will hunt down a cake mix cookie recipe. Yall are the greatest. Thanks again

Good info about the fresh baked cookies. 

I was only passing on what the mother to a soldier told me.

:)

Nia, the standard cake mix cookie recipe is:

1 regular box cake mix (your choice)

2 eggs

1/3 c. vegetable oil

1 T. water

Drop on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper by tablespoonfuls; bake 350 degrees until beginning to brown around edges.  Do not overbake.

You can add whatever ingredients you wish, such as nuts, chips, coconut, flavoring, etc.

Carolyn

  Bumping for one seeking information on this.

When I sent to the troops, I put cookies in empty pringles cans.  I also included cough medicine and cough drops, that's something the need, as well as acne wipes.  The sand is a constant bother to them.

Amy marie

Hi ladies, prayers for our Troops. Yep, you got some smart vets here, hehe, myself included, heyyyy Elizabeth. My husband has deployed 4 times now, and will be returning for a 5th tour. I have sent homemade pumpkin bread and banana bread to my husband Kerry, in both Iraq and Afghanistan. As Elizabeth, boy first time round and the start of the war, everything getting situated, men and women getting to where they would be stationed at, postal being set up, what a mess!! My boxes arrived to my husband finally, backwards on some of the boxes. I have made the homemade bread, and freeze it, put in it vac packs right before mailing and suck that air right out of it, put in priority boxes, labeled, have my international declaration forms ready and get that box or boxes right to the post office, many times sending up to 9 boxes overseas and to Antarctica to our son. Kerry received the bread and said it tasted like cold bread right from the oven. I mailed the boxes on Mondays usually when homemade stuff was packaged as the post offices here in the states close early on Sat and closed on Sundays. My husband received his mail 7 days a week, You GO military postal service over there!  I also would like to mention that the last time my husband deployed was to Iraq, he loves home grown tomatoes. *grin* I picked hard green tomatoes from my own garden, wrapped in black and white newspaper sections, packed them in a priority box once again and sent them to him over there, they arrived fine, some starting to ripen others he let ripen in his window and he shared his few tomatoes with a couple guys as well as his salt shaker. LOL.  Bless you for sending to our Troops. Good luck and God bless them all. Connie

I wish I had known my granddaughter was sending a package to a friend in Iraq BEFORE she sent it. she included a bag of Hershey's kisses. Of course they melted.

I just learned my nephew will be going soon, so I am copying all the advice from this post.