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TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - Marine Corps Community Services provides a care package program to help Combat Center families send their deployed loved one a piece of home in a cost efficient way.
“We help deliver the care packages that friends and families want to send overseas,” said Anisi Tuioletai, general clerk, MCCS.
A care package can mean a lot to a deployed Marine. The packages they receive can boost their morale and make them feel better.
“It felt great getting a care package,” said Cpl. Timothy McAnulty, cannon crewman, L Battery, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment. “Your spirits get lifted 100 percent when you get a care package.”
Combat Center MCCS helps facilitate the process of sending care packages and provides the supplies at no charge.
“We give them all the packaging supplies that they need to ship their package,” Tuioletai said. “We supply the boxes, tape, labels and the customs forms they need.”
Senders can bring in their own boxes to ship through the program, paying for the weight of their shipment or can use one of the program’s flat rate boxes. As a bonus, when someone spends more than $10 sending a package, they get a $10 coupon to use at the main exchange.
Packages are shipped on a daily basis. The program has its doors open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“People come in every day to send out care packages,” Tuioletai said. “I have regulars that come in at least once a week and sometimes they have more than a few boxes to send.”
There are rules senders need to follow in order to send out packages.
“We tell them some of the things that they can’t send,” Tuioletai said “You can’t send propane or any kind of spray cans. Marines may ask, but cigarettes can’t be sent over there either.”
Package senders are encouraged to send books, snacks and baby wipes to their deployed Marines and sailors.
“People usually send things like canned food and lots of baby wipes. I always see a lot of those,” Tuioletai said. “They also send electronics sometimes. We show them how to write that in the customs forms to send over.”
There are things that those deployed looked for in their care packages.
“We’re always looking for things like beef jerky, magazines, foot powder and seeds,” McAnulty said. “The seeds are great. When we get a big bag we munch them for weeks on post. They keep us awake and keep us alive.”
There is no limit to how much someone can send in the care package. The program encourages people to send their love in the form of a care package to their loved ones overseas.
“I’ve had people come in with more than ten boxes to ship and we’ll help them out,” Tuioletai said.
The program takes all the care packages to the post office daily to be sent out. Those sending care packages can drop them off to Anisi Tuioletai at the MCCS Directorate reception desk in Building 1522. For more information call 830-6164.
| Date Taken: | 08.17.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 08.17.2012 13:26 |
| Story ID: | 93418 |
| Location: | TWENTYNINE PALMS, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 25 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Piece of home on deployment, by Cpl D. J. Wu, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
