Below are some suggestions on what can work well when putting together a
military care package for our deployed soldiers.
Popular Items: Magazines, Puzzle Books, Baby Wipes, Disposable Razors, Socks, DVD's and more DVD's (guy movies).
Food - Instant coffee. There are many flavored coffees that are very good.
- Powdered Gatorade.
- Powdered hot chocolate
Kool-Aid, Propel, Crystal Light Powder - Slim Jim's
- Gum
- Microwave popcorn
- Beef jerky
- Crackers and Easy Cheese. Triscuits and Ritz crackers are great.
- Single servings of bagged chips. (The small bags stay fresh longer.)
- Candy, of course. (M & M's are great, hard candy-anything that won't melt.)
- Little Debbie snack cakes
| Healthy Snacks!!! - Granola bars
- Power bars
- Dried fruit
- Chex mix
- Canned soup
- Tuna, Sardines - canned
- Canned Chicken
- Summer sausage
- Oatmeal
- Salsa
- Instant soup
- Fast food condiments (Hot sauce, ketchup, mustard, salt and pepper packets, relish, Mayo)
- Rice Krispie Treats
- Dry cereal. (The small, individual serving boxes stay very fresh.)
- Kraft Easy Mac
- Homemade Cookies - boxed & ziplocked
|
Practical - Clorox wipes
- Baby wipes - if your guys are in the field - these are great!
- Razors, shaving cream
- Shampoo, conditioner
- After shave lotion
- Soap or body wash
- Mouth wash
- Deodorant
- T-shirts, underwear and socks - monthly.
- Eye drops, especially for those in the desert.
- Chapstick
- Lip balm
- Sun block
- Skin so soft (Avon)
- Lotion
- Dental floss
| - Baby powder
- Foot powder
- Combs /brushes
- Cotton balls
- Liquid hand sanitizer
- Breath mints
- Nail files
FOR FEMALES: - Feminine hygiene products (Tampons, panty liners)
- Hair bands
- Hair clips
- Nail polish
- Nail clippers
- Q-tips
- Small mirrors
- Body sprays
- Hair gel
|
Just for Fun - Send batteries. It sounds simple, but people forget.
- A stress ball.
- Stamps, paper and envelopes with a nice writing pen might inspire a few more letters home.
- Phone cards
- Paperback book or magazines
- Disposable cameras
- DVD's
- Jokes and comics
- Hats (Baseball)
- Bandannas
- Bug off
- Banners
- Send board games-the ones they have made into key chains.
- Send his/her favorite magazines
- If they're gone over a holiday, do up one box with just holiday stuff. Be creative!
| - Puzzles
- Journals
- Yo Yo's
- Squirt guns
- Frisbees
- Dart boards
- Small flash lights
- Hackie sacks
- Jump ropes
- Electronics hand held games
- Post cards from your home state
- Handmade items
- Radio head sets
- Portable CD players
- Always write letters.
- Send a few toys. Slinky, sidewalk chalk, squirt guns...anything extra silly.
- Send electronic games.
- Make a miniature scrapbook.
- Foam footballs and basketballs, the miniature size. These will be used constantly!
- Bible or inspirational booklet - only a few at a time.
- BE CREATIVE!!
|
Don't Send...
- Don't send pressurized items (Shaving cream, etc...)
- Don't send chocolates (May melt all over package)
- Some post offices will limit anything liquid - check with your post office!
- Bulk quantities of religious materials contrary to the Islamic faith.
- Items for the personal use of the addressee are permissible.
- Pork or pork by-products.
