After years of deployments, military families know one thing for certain: how to make care packages. But what families might not know is that the United States Postal Service (USPS) offers free shipping supplies to send those care packages.

To help save on the cost of sending service members a little touch of home, the USPS created the Military Care Kit. This kit contains:

• Two Priority Mail APO/FPO Flat Rate Boxes
• Two Priority Mail Medium Flat Rate Boxes (top loading)
• Two Priority Mail Medium Flat Rate Boxes (side loading)
• One Roll Priority Mail Tape
• 6 Priority Mail address labels
• 6 Customs Declaration and Dispatch Notes
• 6 Customs Forms Envelopes

And it's all free of charge!

To receive your free shipping supplies, simply visit the USPS website. Your kit will be shipped to you and arrive at your doorstep within 5 to 7 business days. Although these supplies are free, you still have to cover the cost of actual shipping. (Click here for guidelines and restrictions.)

So the next time you're making a care package for your favorite service member overseas, plan ahead and visit the USPS online store first to stock up on shipping supplies.

By Heather Sweeney