Many people ask me daily what to send in care packages - Talking with many of the troops that I've supported over the years, we came up with the following ideas for you: (this list is not meant to be fully comprehensive .. use creativity .. that is what makes it fun for the troops!!)
***Please share this list with anyone you know***
Toiletries
- Foot powder
- Razors
- Shaving cream
- Moisturizing lotion (unscented so the insurgents don't smell them coming)
- Soap (unscented also)
- Aloe gel
- Band-Aids (for kids) - that way they are not using their medical kits for the kids that have cuts, etc.
- Baby wipes
- Toothbrushes (for soldiers & the locals .. although Chris said he is unsure if the locals will actually use them..)
- Toothpaste
- Dental Floss
- Lip Balm
- Vaseline
- Deodorant
- Air Freshener
- Soft Toilet Paper (yeah, sometimes they say it is like sandpaper over there)
- Boxer Briefs
- Long socks (that they can wear under their boots)
Food Items
- Beef jerky
- Goldfish
- Fruity snacks (like Fruit by the Foot, or stuff like that)
- Banana Chips
- Dried fruit
- Protein bars
- Rice Krispy treats
- Individually wrapped cookies
- Coffee
- Creamer
- Diet powdered drink mixes (individual packets .. like Crystal Light .. make sure there is no sugar, as it ferments in their canteens)
- Hot Chocolate
- Carton-ed shelf milk (not rice or soy milk .. what I am talking about they sell at Costco - vanilla or chocolate flavored)
- Oreos
- Chips (Doritos, Pretzels, Kettle Chips, etc)
- Salsa (in plastic containers)
- Nuts
- Licorice
- Twinkies
- Packaged tuna
- Vacuum packaged summer sausage
- Basically .. junk food that will not perish
- Homemade cookies (they need to be individually wrapped, or two in a napkin or paper towel then I fill up a gallon sized ziploc bag full of the wrapped cookies) Homemade fudge (all the soldiers love homemade goodies .. just keep in mind the time of year, and heat in the areas you are sending your packages. Chocolate can ONLY be sent in the winter months, otherwise it melts or spoils by the time it arrives.)
Entertainment
- Movies (DVD's) .. any type, they will share with one another
- Television series (DVD's) .. they don't get TV over there .. so anything is good
- Books (again .. any and all)
- Magazines
- I-Tunes Gift cards or free uploads
- Crossword puzzle books
- Trivia games
- Soduko puzzle books
- Cards
- Board games
- Nerf balls
- Small hand held games like Yahtzee, etc (electronic)
Miscellaneous
- Kevlar Parachute Cord
- Bubbles
- Blank thank you notes
- Blank birthday/anniversary/special occasion cards
- Batteries (specifically AA or AAA)
- Decorations - Christmas, holiday stuff, candles (they use red, white, blue, & silver taper candles for ceremonies, etc), birthday party favors
- Pictures (they want anything that will not remind them of desert and dirt)
- Candles (in a jar or in a tin .. just to give them a scent other than the person next to them)
- Just funny stuff to make them laugh
Cards made or written by Children or Adults
- Thoughts of gratitude or letters that take them away briefly, from where they are - Really, it can just be a postcard from you!
Items For Locals
- Hard individually wrapped candy
- Pens
- Paper
- Crayons
- Colored markers
- Construction Paper
- Chalk
- Kids sandals
ASK YOURSELF WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IF YOU WERE AWAY FROM HOME FOR A YEAR .. AWAY FROM YOUR LOVED ONES, AND UNABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEM FREQUENTLY. SEND THAT ITEM. :)
One of mine would be, maybe something from my favorite city, or favorite sports team. Make it personal to you .. the troop will find meaning in it. :) It's about your heart, not how much money you have to spend. Sometimes the most I can do is send a postcard, and that makes all the difference in the world! :)
PS.. if you don't want to adopt a service member of your own, you can always donate towards those I support.
Thanks a million!
We can change the world .. one life at a time!
Always,
Robin :)