Care Package for Troops ?

[MrsPooh]

My dd20 would like to send a Christmas care package to a friend of her's that is in the infantry in Afghanistan.

I used to know a bunch of websites with suggestions of items that ship well and that are great things the troops enjoy but that was several years ago.

Does anyone have suggestions of things to include or websites that give suggested lists as well as items not to send?

Thanks

 

[Sandysbuddy]

We sent a package to a friend last year and sent non-perishable foods/snacks like beef jerky, trail mix, nuts, sunflower seeds, hard candy, etc. We also sent some personal care items he had requested: deodorant, baby wipes, soap, etc. We also included magazines, books, and so forth for him to read.

I would also suggest that you pick up flat rate boxes from the Post Office. We got the biggest boxes that our local post office had and it cost us $10 each to mail them. They will give you the box for free and will help you fill out the label.

Hope this helps!

 

[ShiPooOwner]

I've used Anysoldier.com to send CARE packages and I think their website has ideas for the holidays and what to put in CARE packages. I've sent personal items such as toothpaste/brush, deodorant, shaving equipment, snacks (not chocolate since it melts during shipment), paperback books, magazines, greeting cards (for them to send to loved ones at home), playing cards. Use a flatrate priority box that you can obtain free from any p.o. and you can put in as much as the box will hold. I think it's $11.95 to send via priority mail but I'm not exactly sure on the cost.

 

[msmayor]

First, here is what the USPS has to say about sending mail to an APO/FPO address:

http://www.usps.com/supportingourtroops/mailingrestrictions.htm

This website lists some suggestions, and will allow you to enter the zip code for the APO/FPO address to get specific restrictions for that location:

http://www.operationmilitarypride.org/packages.html

I send packages to friends who are located in both secure areas outside of any real "action", and to a marine friend who has spent time in many foxholes.

Remember that a customs declaration form is required.

Remember that the mailing time indicated by the Post Office is only the time it takes to get it in the military's hands HERE in the US, at one of their main sorting facilities. Once it is in the military's hands, it travels on their time...meaning when a plane is full. I've had some packages get to their recipients in 6 days...others in 12.

 

[momof1princess]

i'm told they need pantyhose...they slip them over their weapons to keep the sand out and wear them to keep sand fleas off. any soups or meals they can heat and eat in a microwave, beef jerky, hard candy, lip balm, toothpaste, shaving cream, lotion, hydrocortisone cream, toiletry items, cleansing wipes and items such as athlete’s foot cream and cheap, rubber flip-flops to use in the shower. they also love to get home baked cookies and other baked goods, as well as cards and letters from home. my aunt's church just collected items to send. here's something else that may be helpful:

"The United State Postal Service offers free Priority Mail shipping
supplies to ANY customer shipping packages overseas to deployed Service
Members.
MILITARY CARE PACKAGE KIT CONTAINS:

Three (3) each of flat rate boxes O-FRB1 and O-FRB2
Two each of Cube boxes OBOX4 and OBOX7
Address labels - Label # 228 10 each
One roll of Priority Mail tape
15 customs forms with envelopes.
The kit may be requested by calling 1-800-610-8734 (Packing Supply) and:

Choose your language (1 is English, 2 is Spanish).
Choose option 1 (it states it is for Express Mail(r), Priority Mail or Global
Express Guaranteed(r) products).
When you reach a live agent, request CAREKIT04."

Your DD will need to pay postage, and it may be a little pricey-i think it's $10.00+ to ship a box, but you can put as much in it as will fit for flat fee.

 

[amyy]

We have been adopting soldiers for a few years. One of the most well received items are twin size bed sheets. Protein bars are also popular if they will be out on patrol. Bread that is shrink wrapped (sold this way) ships fine and goes great with peanut butter, jelly, fluff, Nutella etc. The tuna packets don't take up a lot of room and are filling. I have had good luck with sending chocolate in the winter months. Oh, hand warmers. The little one use ones. I would buy boxes at Sam's club during hunting season.

Another soldier (and all her friends) loved seasoned mashed potatoe mix. I just picked it up at the grocery store.

All the items listed are great ideas.

 

[MrsPooh]

Great suggestions. Thank you everyone. If you think of anything else feel free to add on.

Donna

 

[Whistle]

Here is my brainstormed list:

magazines
Oodles of noodles
gum
candy
a "mini Christmas tree" (can buy small ones at the Dollar Tree to decorate- like a foot tall- with small ornaments)
a CD with music (maybe burned with some of his favorites)
a local newspaper (to read current events)
flavored drink packets
beef jerkey
chap stick
personal toilitries

Best of luck to you!

 

[Stephanie218]

If you don't have the time to put together a whole box of items, Hickory Farms products are VERY well received over there. They also ship a bunch of product for free to APO addresses. That was one of my husband's big Christmas presents last year.

As for fresh cookie suggestions, I would be hesitant with that. Some locations can take up to 3 - 4 weeks for packages to arrive (I needed to send my husband's Christmas package in mid-Nov due to his location). Cookies crumble and go stale pretty quickly.

Other things he enjoyed were gum, hard cheese, bruschetta & crackers, Cheese-Its, energy bars, and any kind of microwavable food - instant rice, Thai Food...

 

[MichelleinMaine]

One thing to keep in mind is that most soldiers have ready access to US shopping facilities. In the past, it was recommended to send toiletries, etc. My friend's husband assures me they are all fine in that regard!

He mostly appreciates "local" things (if there's a favorite local coffee or candy, say, or newspapers/magazines.) Homemade goods are also very well received (as said, shipping times can be an issue). My friend has successfully sent cookies and another friend recommends peanut brittle or other such candies.

Mostly, he says "anything" that people send is appreciated, just to know that that they're in thoughts. I send silly things (like a package of Blowpops) just for fun. I also regularly inlcude pictures my Brownies have drawn. Do keep in mind that most of them have limited space in their quarters, so consumable sorts of things are good!

 

[msmayor]

I have had very good success sending baked goods. Homemade Toll House Cookies and brownies are my usual.

The key to ensuring that cookies arrive in one piece is careful layering AND making sure that once packed, they cannot move in the container they're stored in. In addition, I bake everything less than 24 hours before mailing. Ideally, I'll bake in the early evening and allow enough time to cool completely, then pack the box that night and take it to the post office in the morning.

I use the Glad Lock plastic containers. I put one layer of cookies, then a piece of wax paper, then another single layer of cookies, more wax paper, and so on until I get to the top of the container where I 'crush' a little wax paper to make sure the cookies are in there tight. After putting the lid on, a shake of the container lets me know if anything is moving and more wax paper is needed.

Brownies are sliced and wrapped individually in wax paper, then also packed carefully in a Glad Lock container with additional wax paper to ensure they don't move as well.

Once the containers are packed, I tape two layers of bubble wrap on the outside for good cushioning inside the mailing box. I use crushed newspaper for the rest of the cushioning material.

The guys I have sent things to have all told me that the items arrive in perfect shape and taste like they were just baked.

 

[mom_2_K'Lynn]

Last Christmas my brother was in Iraq so as a PP said, many of the tioletry items are accessible for them. We would go buy a bunch of christmas candy, beef jerky, and food items that are easy to carry. We also made brownies and cookies and packaged them up really well and sent them. They always made it there fine and quicker than my brother could get the packages opened everyone was eating the food as homemade things are a special treat!! I'm not sure if things are different in Afghanistan as Iraq, but many times my brother would also request things to do. We sent testicle toss games, baseball gloves, bats, and balls, and footballs. All of these things were left behind for other soldiers after he came home. Just think of all the luxuries at home and those are the things that we take for granted that they don't get for a long time!

 

[hmdavid]

GOOD COFFEE! That is the one thing that my deployed hubby asks for. Every care package that I send contains coffee. DVD's are great, they swap them after they have watched them. non-peishable snacks are great. I just sent a box for Thanksgiving with Hickory Farms snacks and nuts. Hickory Farms ships free to APO/FPO addresses. Be careful when sending baked goods. They don't arrive in very good shape and it takes about three weeks for them to get there.

 

[hmdavid]

We sent testicle toss games, baseball gloves, bats, and balls, and footballs.

Not sure if this is a typo or if I just have never heard of this!

Thanks to your brother for his service!

 

[tekoa]

My advice when sending home made baked goods is to freeze them before mailing. While they are traveling they are thawing and should arrive a bit fresher.

 

[here757]

my husband likes :
trail mix
chap stick
beef jerky
hand written letters
pix of the kids.
cookies -- freshed baked. but make sure you put in a ziplock bag. then an air tight container.. even if they are a little stale the sailors will eat them and be very greatful lol
instant drink mixes. i get the great value ones from walmart. they like the tea blends and cherry limeaid
dried fruit.
maxim magazine LOL but i read it first
any motorcycle magazines

 

[samshane]

My husband requests coffee as well - Dunkin Donuts Decaf! As some of the previous posters have said, many of them have access to toiletries and such - what mine really wants is snacks. I baked him cookies and they were still pretty fresh when they arrived (takes him approx 1 week to get a package). He loves Costco snacks - the nuts, rice snacks, etc. And my mom sends him lots of jerky. He ends up sharing with everyone....