Mailing Address and Care Package Tips

Dear friends, family, and supporters,

One of the most heartwarming and emotionally uplifting ways you could support me during my time in Ethiopia would be to send me letters and care packages. There’s nothing quite so amazing as opening a package or a handwritten letter from back home, especially knowing how much effort and love has gone into sending it.

Now, brace yourselves – it’s expensive. And it got even more expensive early 2013. Below I’ve outlined the prices for flat rate mail, and you’ll find a link to the USPS website where you can find out how big these boxes are. I’ve also listed my address and some helpful packing tips:

Package Rates:

• First-Class International (letter, standard envelope, 1 oz.): $1.05 

Priority International:

• Flat Rate Envelopes, Padded Flat Rate Envelope, Legal Flat Rate Envelope, and Small Flat Rate Priced Boxes (Max. Wt. 4 lbs.): $23.95
• Medium Flat Rate Boxes (Max. Wt. 20 lbs.): $59.95
• Large Flat Rate Boxes (Max. Wt. 20 lbs.): $77.95
• You can also send a box that is not flat rate. The cost will be comparable or more expensive, depending on the weight and size of the box.

The flat rate boxes are available for free at the Post Office

Link to pictures/dimensions/prices of flat rate boxes: https://www.prioritymail.com/flatrates.asp

You’ll have to fill out a customs slip when you send a package, but never fear! The slip is available behind the desk at the post office, and while it looks like a packet, it’s actually only one mini page of information. It’s easy!

Packing Tips:

• It’s best to be general in your descriptions on the customs form, such as ‘food', 'personal hygiene items', 'housewares.'
• Never use packing peanuts or other useless filler. Be creative, and find little things to fill the box that will be useful, tasty, comforting, or fun!
• Remember to label the box very clearly: AIRMAIL. 
•  Don’t send anything irreplaceable or of amazing quality. While most packages arrive successfully, the occasional one does go missing. Also, most items will have to be left in-country when I return.
•  Somewhat perishable items, such as foods, should be sent sealed in the original packaging, and also sealed inside a ziplock bag. This helps keep them in good condition, and supplies me with ziplock bags. :)

My address:

Kristen Rosen

P.O. Box 6

Fincha

Welega, Ethiopia

Items that would always be helpful:

Instant dinners (not for the microwave): Rice a Roni, pasta mixes, mac n'cheese, tuna pacekts, etc.
Dried fruit: cherries, craisins, dates, mixes

Chocolate: dark chocolate, cocoa powder, hot chocolate mix, M&Ms, chocolate chips

Nuts: Honey Roasted Peanuts from Trader Joe’s, pecans

Cheese: Laughing Cow, grated parmesan, a block of cheddar (I promise, it will arrive edible!)

Jelly: strawberry, raspberry, orange marmalade, anything!

Seasonal food: in the fall, cider mix, caramel, dried/processed apples, etc; in the winter, peppermints, hot chocolate, etc; in the spring, easter candy – you get the drift.

Flavored drink mixes, such as Crystal Light or Gatorade MiO

Candy: Sour Patch Kids, Smarties, Starburst, etc. 
Beef Jerky

Children’s books: reading is not in the traditional culture, but is needed to excel in school, so any kids books you can throw in would be incredibly helpful. Keep in mind the audience and keep the reading level beginner – low.

Supplies: Markers, colored pencils, crayons, etc.

CS Literature

Baby wipes and hand sanitizer

Update, April 2015:
A huge thank you to all who sent me care packages during my service! The thought, time, effort, and cost that went into each one was significant, and I am humbled and grateful that you all would do so much for me. The treats, notes, and bits of home comforted me and enriched my service, and in turn made me that much more able to give of myself to the community I was serving.