Copy places like Kinko's are a good resource for shipping boxes. Ask for the boxes that paper comes in. They're very sturdy and ship well. They're a little heavier than regular boxes so it will add to the shipping cost but it will be minimal and of course the sturdier the better so it's worth it. Try baking cookies that will fit snugly inside a Pringles can. If you make soft cookies it could help them to arrive without being completely smashed. Freshness could be an issue so be sure to wrap them up very securely with plastic wrap also. This one is an oldie, but there might be someone out there that has never heard of it. :) When you send homemade cookies, place a couple of pieces of bread in the box. It will absorb any moisture and the cookies will stay fresh. If you send store bought cookies like Oreos, something that cracks easy, take them out of their package and pack them loose in popped popcorn. The popcorn takes the shock of traveling and the cookies get there in great shape. Popcorn (the old fashioned way-not microwavable) is a great packing tool. I use it to pack everything. It's cheaper than packing peanuts and biodegradable. Just don't use the buttered kind. I recommend sending packages Priority Mail. It does help to get it there faster. Priority mail will get it across country and into the hands of the FPO workers faster, and the FPO people respond quicker to Priority mail packages (maybe because they stand out more, who knows?). It's also cheaper in a lot of cases. Your package can be any size you want, but try to keep the individual items as small as possible. The racks are small, and there's not much room to store things. Try to think about where things will be placed-sheets won't take up any room, but books will. Anything that smells good, seal into a plastic bag. Dryer sheets, sachets, perfume-sprayed stuffed animals or pillow cases and Glade stick-ups or other room freshener are all good examples. Place anything that could spill (shampoo, cologne) inside a Zip Lock bag and then tape that bag to the inside of the box. On the outside of the box, write "This Side Up" and even though it will never stay "that side up", it will help! Taping things to the side also helps to distribute the weight and keeps heavy things from crushing smaller or breakable items. A good source of boxes is the supermarket. Often they'll save a box or two if you ask nicely. Also, craft stores are an unlikely source for the perfect sized box. Places like Hobby Lobby, Michael's and Frank's have boxes in any size imaginable. When you send food of any kind, try to send a lot more than you think they'll eat. Most food gets shared and they may not get much if you only send a single serving. This is the most important tip I have. It takes a special skill to write a letter during deployment. Avoid writing phrases such as "Everything is falling apart and I can't handle it without you" or "Everything is falling apart and I don't need you any more to fix it for me". Either of these will cause your spouse terrible anxiety, and it's dangerous for them and for anyone they work with also. I know how hard it is, but I also know how important it is.