Ideas Needed for Gifts for Deployed Soldier

[TheBigBadWolf]

When my nephew was in Iraq, I sent him a Christmas tree, fully decorated with lights and ornaments. I also included wrapped music CDs, DVDs, and other small gifts for him to share with his friends on Christmas. Some of the food items I sent were salsa and chips, cheese dip, beef jerky, beer salt, cookies, Crystal light and flavored tea (to add to their water bottles), tuna packs, chicken packs, gum, his favorite candy, vienna sausages (beef), cup of soup, hot chocolate, canned chili, canned fruit, dried fruit, and more. I also sent single sized condiments such as mayo, mustard, and an assortment of gourmet type condiments that were not available to them. Also a bottle of jalapeno sauce for spicing up some of the more boring foods. He really loved the chips and salsa and queso dip.

Non food items he appreciated were baby wipes (they didn't get to shower regularly and had to wash with the baby wipes), new socks and underwear, foot powder for his boots, etc. I also sent magazines and hand held games and batteries. He told me the Christmas tree and gifts were a big boost to everyone's morale that Christmas.

 

[bengalbelle]

Thanks everyone I appreciate all of the suggestions! I've written them down and shared them with the rest of the family.

We finally heard from him (yeah!!) and found out he will not be at his base/camp for Christmas. He can't tell us where he's going, when he's leaving or when he'll be back, so I'm not sure what to do about some of the food items now. I guess this time I'll include things that won't expire or go bad for quite some time, then send him fresher goodies (like Christmas cookies) when we know he's back.

He did request quite a few things that were listed here, so you guys gave us a head start on that.

Gina, my thoughts and prayers are with your husband and your family (same to anyone else with loved ones in harm's way). I never thought about looking at a pawn shop for movies. His mom sent him some already, but that is definitely something I'd like to send as well.

 

[ginna74]

Thanks everyone I appreciate all of the suggestions! I've written them down and shared them with the rest of the family.

We finally heard from him (yeah!!) and found out he will not be at his base/camp for Christmas. He can't tell us where he's going, when he's leaving or when he'll be back, so I'm not sure what to do about some of the food items now. I guess this time I'll include things that won't expire or go bad for quite some time, then send him fresher goodies (like Christmas cookies) when we know he's back.

He did request quite a few things that were listed here, so you guys gave us a head start on that.

Gina, my thoughts and prayers are with your husband and your family (same to anyone else with loved ones in harm's way). I never thought about looking at a pawn shop for movies. His mom sent him some already, but that is definitely something I'd like to send as well.

well thank you. Just didn't know it would be this hard. After getting the orders it feels REALLLLLLLLLLLLY REAL now.

 

[Melmac]

My sister is in Afghanistan now and she really likes to get TV show seasons on DVD (we bought one of those CD cases and filled it to send - it holds a lot of DVDs and is smaller than the boxes they come in. We kept the boxes for her for when she comes home). She also loved a frisbee (along the same lines as the football - she plans to leave it for the next group when she leaves). She also likes to receive issues of our local newspaper with the sports and Canada news. Apparently, these go out like crazy when she is finished! And I know this was mentioned but gummy candy and anything foot care (scrub, cream, those foot files) were also a big hit. Her boots really seem to chew up her feet.

 

[Schmeck]

We were told chocolate was tricky to send - the melt factor was hard to figure out, even during the winter months. Then we found those hard caramel candies (Nips?) with the soft chocolate centers, success!

My friend's daughter requested deodorant, toothbrushes, mint flavored candy, and gum.

 

[dizluvah]

We are preparing a package for our soldier friend who is in Korea. He does have access to the exchange and he has a microwave, psp, and laptop with him when he his not in the field.

He requested jolly ranchers hard candy (said they are good to keep his mouth from drying out); we found a 3 1/2 lb bag, pre-packaged bags of peanuts (honey roasted, salted etc) from warehouse store - good snack that fit in his uniform pocket. PSP game NCAA Football 2010, cheap 5 dollar DVD of classic cartoons, microwaveable bowls of ravioli, beefaroni, etc (weight doesn't matter if you use flat rate boxes from USPS), chips (pringles because packaged in the can to lessen crushing), plastic utensils, puzzle books - crosswords, word search, sudoku, (I found them at the dollar store), batteries.

He has been there for a month so far and still has no sheets for his bed - so he requested a pillowcase.

One last note, depending on where your soldier is stationed you might want to see how long it takes for your package to arrive before sending any home baked goods. When our friend was in Iraq, packages took quite a bit more time to arrive.

Thanks to all support our troops!

 

[lovemygoofy]

Suggestions for Goody Boxes

Things not allowed: alcohol, pornography, and pork products; hold off on home made goods until we see how long it takes to get boxes over there.

Food/Snack Items
Beef/turkey jerky
Ham, chicken or tuna salad lunch kits (includes the can of meat, crackers, mayo, relish, and little spoon)
Cans/sealed packages of chicken, ham, or tuna in a bag (little packets of mayo can be found at gas stations to send along)
Crackers including soda, salad, and Ritz
Small summer sausage
Pasta buckets
Cans of soup with pop tops
Tabasco sauce or bbq sauce
Hard candy
Little Debbie snacks
Cans of chips such as Torengos or Pringles
Plastic bowls or cans of dips including salsa, cheese dip, and bean dip
Granola/cereal bars
Lunch box sized packets of cookies, cheese nips, cheese &cracker/breadsticks
Good coffee or cocoa
Juice boxes off the shelf not the cold section
Pre-sweetened drink mix like kool-aid, tea, lemonade, or Gatorade

General Items
Boxes of holiday greeting cards unsigned
Envelopes, paper, and pens
DVD’s—blank and with programs
Cd’s—blank and recorded
AA batteries
Int’l phone cards (best found at post office)
Magazines and local news papers
Disposable cameras if applicable
White athletic socks
Good toilet paper
Deck of cards
Handheld/travel size games
Frisbees
Athletic equipment like basketball, football, and soccer
Board games
Books/books on cd

“Theme Boxes”
Holiday boxes including funny or cute decorations
Stocking filled in a box
Coffee/cocoa box (include things like biscotti, cookies, or flavorings with the coffee)
Birthday box
Movie night box (sweets, a dvd movie, microwave popcorn and whatever else sounds good)

 

[Silent1CB]

I have a friend who recently arrived at Camp Phoenix near Kabul. Has one of those plywood huts. While asking about what foods to send him, he said he doesn't have access to a microwave. He's staying put at this camp for a year, not traveling, and no microwave to use? Anywhere or even to share?

Is that normal?

That crossed a bunch of foods off the suggestion list. I thought some hot stuff would have been nice in the colder months.

Or is it like, someone will pass him a used microwave when they go home, and he just doesn't have one yet?

I've seen pictures online of the inside of some of those huts, and the guys do pretty good with setting themselves up. Besides, Amazon.com ships to APO!

This isn't his first deployment by a longshot, but I was just curious.

 

[bengalbelle]

I have a friend who recently arrived at Camp Phoenix near Kabul. Has one of those plywood huts. While asking about what foods to send him, he said he doesn't have access to a microwave. He's staying put at this camp for a year, not traveling, and no microwave to use? Anywhere or even to share?

Is that normal?

That crossed a bunch of foods off the suggestion list. I thought some hot stuff would have been nice in the colder months.

Or is it like, someone will pass him a used microwave when they go home, and he just doesn't have one yet?

I've seen pictures online of the inside of some of those huts, and the guys do pretty good with setting themselves up. Besides, Amazon.com ships to APO!

This isn't his first deployment by a longshot, but I was just curious.

I'm definitely not well informed re your question, but my nephew has called a few times and we're getting more info about his area. He's at Camp Bakwa (I guess it's ok to say that) and he doesn't seem to have much in the way of electrical outlets and such. He brought his laptop with him but hasn't taken it out of the box. He said there is a base not too far from them that has more, so I'm guessing there are quite a few camps where they wouldn't have access to a microwave.

Christine, his mail is taking anywhere from 5 days to 2 weeks. I think it goes to a nearby base and when soldiers from his camp go to the base they pick it up.

All of my information is second and sometimes third hand, so if anyone knows better what I'm trying to talk about, please let me know

 

[ginna74]

I just sent a bunch of nuts through hickory farms and they have free shipping to FPO APO addresses. I would like to send a "wireacake" cake but he says they have all kinds of junk food like a baskin robbins, cakes, pies, and foods like that there. I have sent things that he can hang on his wall that makes it more personal for him. He has all the toothpaste and soap and things like that that he needs for quite a few months as they were sent packages from churches and the community. I still have what I bought but will wait till he is done with what he has. He loves it when we send cards and letters, even though we talk a lot on skype and magic jack. He told me to stop sending so much candy too as they all have a lot of it from people in the community or other peoples boxes. I guess they are getting tired of it lol.