Regarding the letter about care packages for service people:

People need to know that letters and packages must be addressed to a specific service member.

According to the U.S. Postal Service, packages should be mailed by Dec. 5, to ensure delivery for Christmas.

Also, service people do not need stamps or phone cards, because phone and mail service are provided for them.

The best thing to do is to gather the names and addresses of deployed personnel and send care packages to them to distribute to members of their units.

Believe it or not, there ARE service people who never get any mail from home.

If you ask, I am sure that people like me would gladly send you our sons' and daughters' addresses.

Some ideas for packages include: individual drink mixes (like Kool Aid's “Stirring Up Singles”), hard candies (not chocolate - it melts), snacks (chips, etc. - there are no American snacks over there), Chapstick, playing cards, bar soaps, stick deodorants, toothbrushes, stationery, paperback books.

And, according to a friend in Iraq, they won't say “no” to homemade cookies, either!

I would also suggest that you talk with someone at the post office, so you don't accidentally send something that is not allowed.

As the mother of a soldier, I thank you for your concern for my son and all other service people defending our freedoms.

Beth Doolittle

Locke