Shipping costs are added burden for soldiers’ families

Jace Radke

Thursday, Dec. 23, 2004 | 9:08 a.m.

Kimberly Irenze is constantly impressed by the donations and help that the Las Vegas Valley community and area businesses have given to the Nevada Army National Guard's 1864th Transportation Co., but shipping care packages to Iraq has come with an unexpected price tag.

"It gets expensive really quickly, even when you are sending a small package over," said Irenze, who heads up the 1864th family support program. "People have been great in making donations to make our soldier's lives a little better while they are serving."

Some families have spent hundreds of dollars shipping packages of everything from crackers and beef jerky to soap, compact discs and safety equipment.

"I've probably spent about $400 on shipping since they left last summer," said Paula Carter, whose fiance is one of about 160 soldiers with the 1864th. The unit left in August. "It depends on how much the boxes weigh, but when you are getting up to $80 for three boxes its a lot."

Many military families are already on tighter budgets with spouses in Iraq, and in many cases making less money than they would in their civilian job.

While a box of crackers and cheese may not seem like much, it can be important for deployed soldiers, Carter said.

"Sometimes they go on missions and may not have access to other food where they are," Carter said.

Drawings and cards from children and friends are also popular items to send, Irenze said.

"Businesses like Sprint and Rite Aid have done so much," Irenze said. "We've even had the teachers and students at Faye Galloway donate toys for families that don't have as much this year because their family members are overseas."

Irenze said that she has been looking for sponsors to help with the costs of shipping to Iraq, and is asking that anyone intrested in helping with mailing fees call 1864th family support at 632-0518.