Ideas Needed for Gifts for Deployed Soldier

[bengalbelle]

My 22 year old nephew is a Marine recently sent to Afghanistan. With his birthday and Christmas coming up I'd like to send him some things, both fun and needed.

His mom got some ideas but included most of them in her package. I know one thing we'll send is Copenhagen. We were told he can trade it for almost anything.

Any other ideas??? He just went in October so we're all very new to this.

 

[Praying Colonel]

My 22 year old nephew is a Marine recently sent to Afghanistan. With his birthday and Christmas coming up I'd like to send him some things, both fun and needed.

His mom got some ideas but included most of them in her package. I know one thing we'll send is Copenhagen. We were told he can trade it for almost anything.

Any other ideas??? He just went in October so we're all very new to this.

Suggested Contents for Marine Care Packages

Also, you may want to include some Christmas stuff--just a few small decorations from the Dollar Tree will help brighten up their living and work spaces.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Magazines are good, but you have to be careful that they aren't showing women too revealing (so no R-rated mags and no maxim).

 

[jx3smom]

candy and gum

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

I sent a mini football to a freind in Iraq and she was so thrilled. She told me that it gave them somthing to do. I also sent her socks (she was thrilled).

 

[Sgt Mickey]

Those star kist tuna packs are a big hit.

 

[glitterkittyy]

My brother's stay over there was greatly enhanced by the crystal light packets that he could put in his water. He asked for more of them every time we talked.

 

[liamsaunt]

One tip...send any food in a seperate package from non-food items. The problem is that the food can pick up the odor of the soaps, tobacco, etc during shipping, and then it's not edible.

 

[bengalbelle]

Suggested Contents for Marine Care Packages

Also, you may want to include some Christmas stuff--just a few small decorations from the Dollar Tree will help brighten up their living and work spaces.

Thank you for that link. I'd Googled several versions of gift ideas for deployed soldiers, but I wasn't happy with any of the sites I found. This is a good one! The decorations are also a great idea.

I sent a mini football to a freind in Iraq and she was so thrilled. She told me that it gave them somthing to do. I also sent her socks (she was thrilled).

His mom sent him a Nerf football. She wasn't sure if he'd have any way to air up a regular football. We're going to send him one if he can, though. Great idea

I appreciate all of the suggestions, and they're very good. He's been getting the Tuna so I know he likes that. I don't know if he's gotten any of the Crystal Lite flavors, but I'm definitely going to include them.

liamsaunt, thanks for the shipping tips

 

[jsmith]

I send food and personal care items in the same box all the time-i just make sure everything is sealed well or in vaccuum packs and its never an issue.
Be sure you are using the flat rate APO/FPO boxes-they are 11.95 regardless of weight to any APO address-lots of time you can send a couple of these for less than one regular box. Sending stuff priority mail does make a difference-not once the miitary gets it-but it does get to the APO faster.
Small fun toys-the most popular thing i ever sent was a nerf dart gun-i gues it got tons of use. Books and DVDs if he has a computer.
Remember however that they have limited personal space and that everything you send that is not consumable has to be brought home and they are limited in luggage.

 

[a1tinkfans]

My 22 year old nephew is a Marine recently sent to Afghanistan. With his birthday and Christmas coming up I'd like to send him some things, both fun and needed.

His mom got some ideas but included most of them in her package. I know one thing we'll send is Copenhagen. We were told he can trade it for almost anything.

Any other ideas??? He just went in October so we're all very new to this.

Please tell your family and your nephew
THANK YOU for their sacrifices for this great country of ours!

 

[4nana]

Know your DN will enjoy all the goodies you can send...the more the merrier, as they love to share. Baked gooks are in hot demand, but do not travel as well if he moves around. Many of our boys are out post, or on missions, not near a base or PX and all have limited space, but any word or pkg from home is the best!!!

Our DS, US Army, is in Afghanistan, his mail takes 7-10 days and is only delivered on Tues/Thurs. I use boxes jsmith mentioned and keep custom forms here.

One thing ours enjoyed was a mini family photo album and calendar. He informed me the Gummy soldiers I found at candy store didn't stand a chance! Also a watch or clock showing diff time zones and weather, a camera, battery night light to read or write by, CD/DVD's, if they have a laptop for when they have down time.

Items I can think of off top of my head: food ~ remember No pork, but about any snack you can think of - choc/energy drinks/tea/coffee, turkey and beef jerky/slim jims, power/cereal bars, oatmeal/instant soups/ramen noodles, sunflower seeds/nuts, Hickory farm type cheeses, peanut butter crackers, fireballs or dried fruit, etc. Hygiene items are needed also: incl shampoo, soap, baby wipes, etc., Avon Skin so soft and chap stick, foot powder/foot pads/blister pads, lotion. It's all very much appreciated!!!

Godspeed and thank your nephew for his many sacrifices!

This is one cute idea I got off Anysoldier.com message brd for a theme pkg our grands are going to do for C'mas.

A THEMED CARE PACKAGE IDEAS!

SOLDIER CARE PACKAGE
"Tucked inside this little bag
When your spirits are starting to sag
Are some little reminders that I care
As you fight for freedom over there."

Toothpick: To help you pick out the good in every situation you encounter.
Hugs and Kisses(Hershey's Hugs and Kisses): Because sometimes we all need a "hug and kiss"
Paperclip: to help you "keep it together" when it all seems to be hitting the fan.
Marble: To replace "the ones we all lose" from time to time.
Snickers: To remind you to "laugh" even when you feel like crying.
Rubber Band: To help you be flexible and "bounce back" in times of trouble without breaking.
Stick of Gum: To remind you to "stick" with the task at hand.
Mint: To let you know you're worth a "mint" to me.
Cotton Ball: To help "cushion" the rough times.
Lollipop: To help you "lick" the problems you encounter.
Star Burst: To let you know I'm "bursting" with pride for you.
Nut: To remind you to relax and get a little "nutty" sometimes.
Tootsie Roll: To remind you of the important "roll" you play.
Lifesaver: To signify the "lifesaving" things you do to keep our country free.

 

[golfgal]

We are gathering "stocking stuffers" for soldiers through a woman who's husband is deployed. He specifically asked for hand lotion, lip balm, foot cream, and similar so we are sending over those in stockings for his unit.

We had some co-workers of DH's that were deployed and we kept some boxes around the office so people could drop stuff in them as they picked things up and mailed them as they got full. We usually sent hand held games and lots and lots of batteries for them.

SOCKS are always good as they go through so many pairs of them.

 

[oregonmommyof2]

My brother is currently deployed to Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan... We mail him boxes weekly and from what he is asking for and telling us is good...

Crystal Light Packets are like GOLD! lol... (All brands too... Ocean Spray and Kool Aid)
Chap Stick
Homemade Brownies and Cookies
Gum
Candy
Beef Jerky

We go to Costco and buy the huge bags of Runts, Mike and Ike's, Skittles, Tootsie Pops... Anything that won't melt... I think my Mom has done M&M's but I cannot remember...

I also send Ipod gift cards for him to be able to download new music or movies... Or PSP games since he took his PSP with him...

We also sent new pillows and a blankets, oh and a mattress cover just to make him more comfortable since he is at a base and not out moving all the time, he said it made a huge difference...

Hope that helps...

 

[dalt01]

a ticket home........................one for everybody.

 

[locolala]

Lets see here. If you have a foodsaver type thing (vaccum sealer for food) you can make and send brownies. I've sent dozens of batches this way, and never had a complaint. The microwavable Betty Crocker desserts are a big hit, they just add water and microwave. Books and magazines are a pretty good bet too, if your nephew likes to read. The little boxes of cereal are good to send too. Since it's cold out there right now, also consider things like oatmeal and hot cocoa. If he's still there in the summer, little cheapo water guns and water balloons are a great way to stay cool.

 

[Silent1CB]

Just the answers I was looking for.

 

[ginna74]

Hubby is going to Iraq (so far) and will be training far away before he goes. He has said from people that have been there that they like movies too. I was thinking about going to a pawn shop and stalking up. He even talked about if people are around the local children that they like candy too (in both countries). I am planning on going to sams and just going nuts lol. It is getting really close...

 

[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.

 

[Stephanie218]

He really loved the chips and salsa and queso dip.

That was a big hit with my husband as well. I used to send him boxes full of just chips. He also loved Hickory Farms products and movies to keep him busy. I tried not to send anything big because as people said - you have to bring everything home.