Site Moved

For up-to-date shipping information please visit this this page:
How to help: Care Packages

We’ve received our first care packages! As I type this I’m enjoying a Recees Peanut Butter Cup and very much looking forward to some meals made with such rare treats as taco seasoning, chili powder and real chocolate chips! (To say nothing of many other little things, like hot sauce!) I want to say a big thank you to everyone who sent something: Thank you!

To get these packages was, in some cases, was rather difficult. Due mostly to our inexperience with international shipments to Eastern Europe. So, we’ve learned a lot and I need to pass on some important information and some tips for shipping us packages.

First, do not address the package to YWAM. Yes, I know… We told everyone to send things to “YWAM Attn: The Colkers” but we were wrong! Don’t do that. The reason is two-fold: Organizations’ shipments are given extra attention at the border and an official representative of YWAM has to write, sign and bring a letter in person to the post office with us to get the package. It’s a lot of work that can be easily avoided: please just send your packages to “the Colkers.”

Second, do not use a service like FedEx, UPS or DHL. These private companies’ packages are delayed a bit more then regular mail because the border and customs officials know these companies have money and would like a bit of it for themselves. (If you really want to use UPS you cold try taping a $20 bill to the box and mark it “donation for the Ukrainian government”. It might move through the system a bit faster that way.)

Third, when filling out the Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note it is recommended that your “Detailed Description of Contents” is as general as possible. “Gifts. Used toys. Clothes. CD.” is very nice. Also if the “Total Value” is more then $70 or the package weighs more then 20 pounds it runs a higher chance of being opened.

If you’ve already sent us a package don’t worry about any of this, we’ll deal with it. Just keep all this in mind with anything you send in the future. Thanks!

Our shipping address and some current care package ideas are all on the How to Help Us page of our website.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 1st, 2006 at 11:42 pm and is filed under Ukraine, Life. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.