In response to increased postage costs that affect nonprofits and families that send mail and packages to the military, legislators from Burlington County’s 8th District have started a petition to urge the U.S. Postal Service to restore lower rates.

The Postal Service recently consolidated its five military postal centers that processed military mail to one facility in Chicago. As a result, nonprofits or family of military members must now pay the domestic postage rate from their location to Chicago.

The online petition was launched Friday by Sen. Dawn Marie Addiego and Assemblymen Ryan Peters and Joe Howarth.

“Nonprofits in South Jersey have been blindsided by skyrocketing prices to ship care packages to servicemen and women overseas,” Howarth said in a statement. “The dramatic cost increase came without warning and threatens to severely slash the amount of parcels being sent out.

Operation Yellow Ribbon of South Jersey, an Evesham nonprofit that sends care packages to troops overseas, has said it will need to drastically cut back its shipments if the hiked prices remain.

U.S. Rep. Tom MacArthur, R-3rd of Toms River, also has gotten involved, calling on the postmaster general to reverse the rate increase and asking the House Oversight Committee to investigate the changes and impact on nonprofits.

To sign the petition, visit:

 senatenj.com/carepackages.