HELP.... Making my first care package.

[ashleyd725@hotmail.c]

My stepdad is currently deployed for 5 months to Qatar.
He took his laptop and a ton of movies.
I want to get a package together to send to him but he always says he is fine and doesnt need anything. Although in his last email he did mention cookies, lol.
He likes no bake cookies and homemade choc chip.
My question is what else should I include and how do I get the cookies to stay freash it will probably take cloes to a week for him to get his package.

 

[Rosiekins]

I am not sure what else to include but I do know not to send things with peanuts or peanut butter, the oils go rancid in the heat and make people quite ill. You can keep your cookies fresher by packing them with a slice of bread, it helps with the mosture.

 

[stm61]

I was at Al Udeid and didn't really need anything from home (but it's always nice to get packages!). We had meals provided pretty much around the clock and the BX has plenty of stuff to buy. It's much cheaper to buy at home then to pay BX prices, but I'm not sure about the shipping charges. One thing I wanted was books. They did start a library, but 4 years ago it was pretty small. Maybe some computer games? If shipping isn't to bad, he'll eventually need shaving stuff, deoderant, shampoo, soap, etc. He might need t-shirts and underwear in a few months also, the contract staff uses industrial washers and they're rougher then a home washer. Occasionally they also go missing for a while. You could use socks, towels, and wash rags for padding. I just remembered, Girl Scout cookies can be shipped over there! They're telling the girls to ask anyone who doesn't want to buy for themselves if they want to buy for the troops.

 

[ashleyd725@hotmail.c]

Thanks so far.
Keep the ideas coming.
What if I would buy like sealed packages of peanuts he said it is only in the 70s over there right now so it shouldnt be a problem right?

 

[Shmily1]

My DS is only an hour and a half away at college and always says he doesn't need anything, but when I baked him cookies and sent them, he was soooo excited!! He said they were not broken and were still wonderfully fresh even after three days. I wrapped them with wax paper in between each one and put them in a Ziploc container that was airtight.

I think your idea for movies is great and you might want to add in some magazines also. I don't think he could get too many socks and underwear. The little sealed packages of peanuts seem like a good idea since they are sealed to be heat and bacteria resistant. Also, hard candies, pictures, and toiletries may be good.

Please also tell him thank you for your service!!

 

[littlezar]

My husband returned in December from a 7 month deployment and he would always say he didn't need anything. I always sent gum, granola bars and "fluff" reading (tabloids, LOL.) I also make a CD of pictures and video clips of the kids. My husband is currently off the coast of Haiti (home 5 weeks and left for humanitarian efforts) and I just sent him a CD with video of my 3 year old playing some games on the Wii since he's starting to understand the controller.

Editing to add that if he has an APO/FPO address there are special flat rate boxes at the post office that are slightly cheaper to mail than regular flat rate. Either way, pack that flat rate box tight! The people at my post office are always happy to see me get my money's worth, LOL!!

 

[Maddie2]

The one most important piece of advice I would give is to be sure NOT to ship edibles with scented items (ie. deodorant) .... or your cookies will arrive tasting like deodorant! Ewwww! We've never done it, but have heard all about it.

We've been sending care packages for a few years through anysoldier.com and now we have several local soldiers over in Iraq & Afghanistan, so we are just getting ready to send some packages.

Things that are on their lists include: Q-tips, microwave meals (They have a dining hall too, but it is convenient to have food nearby at times too - picked up some Hormel meals of meat & potatoes today for about $2 each), gum, movies, M&M's, skittles, twizzlers, small cans of fruit, and small games. They also sometimes appreciate greeting cards that they can send to their loved ones ... hey, you could buy your own birthday card for him to send back to you!

We usually send pre-packaged items, but I've heard that coffee filters make good packing when sending homemade goodies too.

The post office has a Priority Flat Rate 12"x12"x5.5" box that ships to an AFO/FPO address for $11.95. From our experience, they usually take closer to 2 weeks to arrive. Two days to reach the east coast and then 10 days or so to travel overseas.

Have fun putting your package together!

 

[dawson5]

we used to send shows (live music of taper friendly bands) to the troops. we usually would include a few things. One thing that seemed to be repeatedly asked for was twizzlers and toiletries.

As for the cookies, what about packaging them in a pringles can?


What about some local newspapers?

 

[LovableGluttons]

We just sent off a couple of boxes today. We have travel sized toiletries, magazines, gum, nuts, M&Ms, trail mix, raisins, jerky, and I made brownies!

Ours went to Afghanistan. I sent sugar cookies the last time and they were not in the box when he opened it!

 

[Stephanie218]

My husband returned in December from a 7 month deployment and he would always say he didn't need anything. I always sent gum, granola bars and "fluff" reading (tabloids, LOL.) I also make a CD of pictures and video clips of the kids. My husband is currently off the coast of Haiti (home 5 weeks and left for humanitarian efforts)

Small world, I know a few other people on that MEU that got recalled. Hope he's able to come back quickly but at least he's doing a great thing.

Anyway, I always just sent boxed cookies and my husband enjoyed them just as much - Chips Ahoy, girl scout cookies, etc. He loved anything Hickory Farms, the instant brown rice pouches, lots and lots of photos, a computer game once in a while, dvds, and books.

 

[lindsmom]

When our GS troop made packages, I used the following site (in addition to anysoldier.com) to get ideas: http://www.operationmilitarypride.org/packages.html

Also, I had read (but can't find the link now) that there is a significant black market for dvd's and cd's so they recommend that if you do send over those items, you should write on the cover and open it and write on the disc itself in permanent marker - "property of USAF / Marines / etc." Won't stop people from taking the stuff, but might deter them.

 

[Shmily1]

Small world, I know a few other people on that MEU that got recalled. Hope he's able to come back quickly but at least he's doing a great thing.

Anyway, I always just sent boxed cookies and my husband enjoyed them just as much - Chips Ahoy, girl scout cookies, etc. He loved anything Hickory Farms, the instant brown rice pouches, lots and lots of photos, a computer game once in a while, dvds, and books.

Stephanie, I love your signature picture!! What an awesome way to remember your special day!!

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

When my husband was in Iraq he was at a remote Iraqi base training their troops, so I sent a lot of food! I sent Little Debbie snacks, individual cookie packs, microwave soup, all kinds of stuff. I baked brownies once (in disposable pans) and had a friend seal them in her vacuum-sealer. It worked great and he said they were still pretty fresh when he opened them. My husband didn't have regular access to a PX/BX so I sent him mints, candy, cookies, chips (Pringles, so they didn't get smooshed).

Those flat-rate boxes are super savers, too. I could stuff them full of canned goods and they'd weigh a ton, but ship for the lower rate. Sometimes the postal worker would tell me how much I'd saved by using the flat-rate boxes and it was always about $10.

 

[RMAMom]

The only thing that I can think of that hasn't already been mentioned is your hometown newspaper. It's always nice to read about familiar people and place and it will keep him current on events happening at home.

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

My freind rebecca was in Iraq for awile. I sent her cookies, chips, fun magizines, and a mini football. Just a little tiny one from dollar tree. She emailed me two days latter and asked if I could send another one because the guys "stole" hers.

 

[sk!mom]

My nephew recently started his second deployment in Afghanistan. So far I've sent...

Box 1- University of Texas theme-
t-shirt
UT football
special Texas football edition magazine
UT hackey sack
Beef Jerky

If UT had won that National Championship, my DH was prepared to head out the next morning for all the National Champ stuff he could find.

Box 2 and 3-
Little Debbie Christmas krispy treats
Julios chips
single serve cans of bean dip
single serve queso cups
4 Small Nerf guns with extra darts (he said that these were a hit and a great way to blow off steam.)
Hand held guitar hero
20 questions ball
travel Sports Trivial Pursuit


My nephew has a wife and mom sending regular boxes of things he needs. DH and I try to send fun stuff to let him know we're thinking of him and to help fight the boredom.

One cool thing my niece came up with was a UT flag that she then had everyone in the family sign.

 

[samshane]

Honestly - my Dh just likes getting the packages. He likes that someone is thinking of him (many of his friends don't much of get anything). I made a ton of cookies and it took a week, but he still ate them and shared them (and sent back "orders" for more of different kinds - LOL!). I also go to Costco and get tons of snacks.

You can stuff a large flat rate from the PO for 11.95 - up to 70lbs.

It's the thought that really matters.

 

[cajunbaby1]

When my nephew went to both Iraq & Afganistan we would send stuff that they would trade amongst themselves. Such as those packets of crystal light, hawaiian punch,etc. Slimjims, dried fruit (banana chips, etc.) anything that doesn't melt . Also those 3 in 1 bath/shampoo bottles. That why they only need to lug one to the shower.

 

[i_love_stitch]

My husband recently returned from a year deployment in Camp Victory, Iraq. I knew that he could buy stuff there, but it was so much more money. They had told us that it was ok to send chocolate from December through February, since the temperature was a little cooler. I used to stack the cookies, wrapped in plastic, and slide them into something like a pringles container or a paper towel roll cut lengthwise, so the cookie stack would fit in. This protected the cookies from breaking. I heard someone suggest Hormel meals, and I wanted to suggest staying away from any that might have pork products in them if the rules are the same for Qatar as Iraq. My
MIL sent deviled ham and that package was opened and gone through.

Pictures and letters in the package were something he could carry around from home and made my husband feel more connected to me and the four kids. Most of all, I think the servicemember would appreciate anything you would send. It is truly the thought that counts.

 

[lovemygoofy]

Ziploc bags. I put everything in ziploc bags even if it didn't need it because the bags are handy to have. Sand gets into everything and I mean everything. Stuff my husband hadn't used and never came out of the bag had sand in it.

Among things listed here one of the popular boxes was the coffee box once a month or so. It would have:

Starbucks coffee (I sent whole bean but my husband had a grinder and coffee pot there)
2 different kinds of flavoring
Starbucks mocha powder
Starbucks carmel sauce
biscotti
hot chocolate mix with a can of condensed cream (they would heat the cream up in the microwave and then mix all the hot chocolate in it to make it really creamy)
good tea bags
board game/movies

My first box included some cute and funny mugs and a tea pot. Once a month they would have some downtime and have "coffee night" while watching a movie or playing a game.

Now would be a good time for gs cookies. I also sent microwave popcorn, ritz crackers, the spray cheese in the can, soup with the poptop(BIG favorite), little debbies, and seasonal candy like now valentines with those yucky conversation hearts.

I also always wrote a letter and a card. Something he could keep with him. He brought every letter and card back home. Nasty and dirty and sometiems bent in half but brought them all back.