Save money and time when you ship through American Legion partner Ship Thrifty.
As the holidays approach, many of us are preparing to send gifts to loved ones and to our servicemembers stationed far from home. Care packages remain one of the most meaningful ways to lift morale and show appreciation for those who serve.
Like The American Legion and the elves at the North Pole, Ship Thrifty is dedicated to supporting those who serve and making holiday shipping easier than ever. With prepaid labels, you can skip the lines and handwritten customs forms.
And when you create shipping labels through Ship Thrifty, a portion of each shipment is donated back to The American Legion. Just type Legion in the affiliate code at signup or use this link: shipthrifty.com/rf/legion.
What’s new for 2025
New Customs Requirements (Effective Sept 1, 2025). U.S. Customs and Border Protection now requires a 6-digit HS code, individual item weights, and a strong recommendation to include the country of origin on all military APO/FPO/DPO shipments. Each item must be listed separately on customs forms. Ship Thrifty tools like “Add to Custom List”, “Add Same Customs for All”, and the new HS Code Lookup make compliance easier.
Holiday Shipping Deadlines. USPS, FedEx and UPS have published their 2025 cutoff dates for holiday delivery. Plan ahead—The Priority Mail deadline for APO/FPO/DPO military mail delivery before the holidays is Dec. 9.
Tips for Merry Shipping
Use plain boxes instead of carrier-branded ones to save money.
Keep packages under 20 pounds when possible for best rates.
Use a Priority mail label if you’re using a USPS Priority Mail box.
Only USPS can deliver to PO Boxes—enter these addresses in your ShipThrifty address book for easy reuse.
Provide detailed customs descriptions (e.g., toothbrush, toothpaste, granola bars) instead of general categories like snacks or toiletries.
Avoid restricted items, such as aerosols, alcohol-based products, and pressurized or flammable substances.
Double-check base restrictions — some locations prohibit coffee, meat products, and certain over-the-counter medications.
Whether you’re sending to family, friends, or service members, your free Ship Thrifty account saves time, money, and hassles on the labels you create. We proudly support thousands of care package events each year, and we’re honored to help make all your shipping faster, easier, and more meaningful.
Create your free account today: www.shipthrifty.com/rf/legion Or use code Legion at signup.
- Dispatch