Here is a list I got from a marine Mom, some of it may be repeats...
Most needed item: BABY WIPES and LOTS of them!!!! This is their shower in a box!
As they leave base camp, make care packages small and light weight. Many
things are available now in the large camps as there are Exchanges. You can also shave off a few days by sending it as priority mail. Don't forget the customs forms for each box. They will give you extras at the post office.
If at all possible,it is always a good idea to find out what your Marine needs before you send it.
> > >BABY WIPES (for personal hygiene for MEN and WOMEN)
> > >Toilet Paper
> > >Kleenex
> > >Toothpaste, toothbrushes
> > >Shaving cream (non-aerosol), razors, razor blades, electric razors
> > >Jock itch spray
> > >Sunglasses (goggle-type sunglasses are requested very frequently)
> > >Throat Lozenges
> > >Gum, Lifesavers, Mints
> > >Eye Drops (like Visine, to relieve irritation from blowing sand)
> > >Moleskin (for pads on sore feet, you'll find it with Dr. Scholls)
> > >Blistex, Chapstick, Vaseline (for dry lips; to relieve irritation
> from
> > >blowing sand)
> > >Shampoo
> > >Deodorant
> > >Feminine hygiene products for women Marines
> > >Hand sanitizer, waterless soap, liquid body wash
> > >Foot Powder (there are some that have ingredients to fight athletes
> > >foot)
> > >Foot Soap (Medicated - comes in small packets)
> > >Aspirin, Motrin, Tylenol, Pain Relievers
> > >Saline spray/drops for sensitive nasal passages
> > >Q-tips
> > > Eyeglass wipes
> > > Sunblock, Aloe Vera Lotion
> > >Civilian sunscreen (military issue sunscreen is like glue and the
> sand
> > >sticks to it)
> > >Postage stamps if they want to mail items larger than an envelope &
> > >letter. Only envelopes and letters are eligible for Free postage -
> Any
> > >packages the Marines send require postage.)
> > >
> > >
> > >MORE REQUESTS FROM THE MARINES:
> > >
> > >Photos from home
> > >Batteries (AA,
AAA, C' D)
> > >Underwear and socks
> > >Green boot socks (specifically)
> > >Tactical Duct tape: military green, tan, black, or gray if you
> can't
> > >find anything else)
> > >
> > >Frisbee
> > >Hacky Sack
> > >Decks of cards
> > >Hand-held games
> > >Laundry soap
> > >Cigarettes, chew
> > >Envelopes, paper, pens
> > >Small pads of paper
> > >Notebooks (a size they can keep in a pocket)
> > >Electrical Tape
> > >Books, Magazines (remember - no Playboy, Penthouse, etc.)
> > >Flashlight with a red lens
> > >1- and 2-gallon ziplock plastic bags
> > >> > >Clothesline and clothespins
For fleas - Cutters makes one for handling fleas and other bugs.
> > >Small handheld stiff bristle brushes (to brush sand out of Cammies)
> > >Small soft brushes (to brush sand out of personal items)
> > >
> > >FOOD ITEMS: If you can stuff it in your pocket and it's not going
> to
> > >spoil, it's a good thing to send!
> > >
> > >Ravioli and little styrofoam cups of meals they can pop open and
> chow
> > >down
> > >Packaged cookies
> > >Jerky, pepperoni
> > >Dried fruit
> > >Small pop top cans of canned fruit
> > >Hot cocoa mix, coffee, (juice mix as it gets warmer, April on)
> > >Lemonade mix, Gatorade mix
> > >Small bags of snacks or individual wrapped snacks
> > >Pop Tarts, cereal bars, "milk & cereal" bars, granola bars
> > >Munchies (non-specific)
> > >Candy and candy bars
> > >Torengos and canned nacho cheese dip
> > >Jalepeno velveeta and crackers
> > >Peanut butter (Sometimes you can little squeeze tubes...very cool)
> > My son asked for Top Ramen noodles in his last letter.
> > I hope this info helps!!!
> > Take Care
> > Cindy (LCPL Matt's MOM)
My 2 cents:
Nerf footballs, Frisbees, small wall calendar with squares to write in, large safety pins, 2 in 1 powder for athletes feet and jock itch (dollar tree),sunflower seeds!!, stridex pads
>
Deployed Care Package List:
(Think of what you might like to take on a trip away from home, lots of small sample sizes. Remember, they are limited with space, anything extra they will share with others in their tent.)
Send letters and funny cards
Batteries (AA, D Cell)
Books (New or Used)Paperback,
Clothes pins
Cough Drops
Disposable cameras or film
Flags & Patriotic Items (Homemade ones are special)
Girl things if you have a female in military etc...
Holiday decorations(no santa or religious)
Laundry detergent tabs,
Local newspapers, funny stories, comics, sports scores of their teams
Magazines (New or Used)(No Nudity, please)ie.-Cabela's,Brigade,Sports
Illustrated,Quartermaster,Leatherneck, Truck Trader sales,
Photos
Personal Hygiene Items
(Soap, Shampoo, disposable razors, chapstick, toothbrush/paste, dental floss, facial cleanser or facial cleanser pads, Motrin, Advil or Tylenol) hand sanitizer, EYEDROPS, deodorant, jock itch powder,
Baby Wipes- Great for bathing (male and female cleansing wipes..ie Dove, Old Spice)
Suntan lotion (sunscreen)
Skin Lotion (face moisturizer)
Q-Tips (for cleaning guns and personal)
Foot powder
Cutter's towelette's for (flea repellent)
Razor blades
Tubes of shaving cream( substitute Aveeno lotion,
Neutrogena)
vitamins
Hand held video games
Playing Cards
Pre-paid phone cards (international, VFW)
Pens/Pencils
Postage is free when in combat area for them to send out)
Stamps (needed for manila envelopes and packages to send back to states, watch out for holiday themed stamps)
Blank Holiday/Birthday cards with envelopes and stamps
Writing paper, envelopes(peel & seal flaps)Manila envelopes to mail items back home) print up address labels for them to use on their mail they are sending out
Scotch tape
Socks (black)
Hand warmers (depending on the time of year)
Sun Glasses
Tapes/CD's/DVd's (Amazon.com will ship to APO& FPO addresses for free if over $25 is ordered)
Toilet paper (take out cardboard roll)
Travel games (if aboard ship, magnetic games work great)
FOOD ITEMS: any food that will last(keep in mind he shares)
BEEF JERKY is a biggie,
Baked goods, pack in pringle cans so don't get crushed
Candy (that doesn't melt easily)
Gum (No Icebreaker brand..it has an alcohol derivative)
Canned nuts
Cracker packs w/cheese whiz,
small cans of tuna, plastic forks & spoons,
canned pudding, beef summer sausage,
pork products can NOT be sent
Quickie prepackaged foods that only require you to Add Water
POWER BARS
Prepackaged Treats (nothing that goes bad,rice krispies,etc)
Instant Coffee/Hot Chocolate mix
Pre-sweetened, powdered drink mixes (Gatorade, Kool-Aid,lemonade, etc...)
Condiments,equal from fast food restaurants (to help spice up MRE's) Don't forget Breakfast!
Sunflower seeds
*Ask stores for donations. Ask a Fast Food Chains for extra condiments they may give you whole bags of everything they give out!
IMPORTANT INFORMATION WHEN SHIPPING TO THE PERSIAN GULF
Some Do's and Don't's
Do:
Include return addresses, so military can thank you.
Ensure correct address (Military mail is not the most efficient)Also, put your Marines address on both the inside as well as the outside of box. Paper tends to get ripped off in shipping, leaving no address
or return address.
Limit appears to be 70 to 75 lbs. Priority mail or insured is recommended and a custom form must be filled out for everything except cards and letters. Generalize..Snacks,Toiletries,Books,Magazines
Ship at least ten days prior to holidays (to ensure timely delivery)
The only package that was lost was NOT Priority mail or insured. So please spend the couple extra dollars. If not Priority, it will go by ship and could take 4-6 weeks.
FLAT Rate Priority envelope can be used to send magazines,etc. You can stuff as much as this envelope will hold for a $3.85 rate.
Any packages over 16 ounces needs a customs form attached on the outside.
It was also suggested to place items in Ziplock bags. This
helps prevent powders from spilling and causing a package to
be possibly opened, inspected and thrown away.
Also, the bags come in handy for reuse. Items can be placed
in them for protection from the rain, mud, or sand.
Get others involved or do a care package as a group project
Be sure to Thank them for what they are doing for you. A simple thank you goes a long ways far away from home!
The above restrictions were given out by the US Officials with the JOINT TASK FORCE,SOUTHWEST ASIA
Don't:
Send pressurized items (Shaving cream, etc...)
Send chocolates (May melt all over package)
Send pornographic material (illegal in some countries)
Don't send liquor
Don't send religious items that aren't Islamic. A lot of that type of stuff will get confiscated at customs.
You can send religious items that aren't contrary to the Islamic Faith. In other words something that is Christian Vs Islam. You can send bibles.
Second List:
Hello MMO family,
I have complied a list from those that have contributed toward what to send
to those Deployed. I can see that more will be added as ideas come up. A BIG
THANKS to those that have contributed information! I'm going to take my list
to our VFW and see if they can help out those that have been deployed from
my area. I may even go to the newspaper.
Deploy List:
(Think of what you might like if you were on an extended camping trip away
from home, lots of small sample sizes. Remember they are limited with space.
Anything extra they will share with others in their tent)
Send letters and funny cards
Batteries (AA, D Cell)
Books (New or Used)Paperback,
Clothes pins
Cough Drops
Disposable cameras or film
Flags & Patriotic Items (Homemade ones are special)
Girl things if you have a female in military etc...
Holiday decorations(no santa or religious)
Laundry detergent tabs,
Local newspapers, funny stories, comics, sports scores of their teams
Magazines (New or Used)(No Nudity, please)ie.-Cabela's,Brigade,Sports
Illustrated,Quartermaster,Leatherneck, Truck Trader sales,
Photos
Personal Hygiene Items
(Soap, Shampoo, disposable razors, chapstick, toothbrush/paste, dental
floss, facial cleanser or facial cleanser pads, Motrin, Advil or Tylenol)
hand sanitizer, EYEDROPS, deodorant, jock itch powder,
Baby Wipes- Great for bathing (male and female cleansing wipes..ie Dove, Old
Spice)
Suntan lotion (sunscreen)
Skin Lotion (face moisturizer)
Q-Tips (for cleaning guns and personal)
Foot powder
Cutter's towelette's for (flea repellent)
Razor blades
Tubes of shaving cream( substitute Aveeno lotion,
Neutrogena)
vitamins
Hand held video games
Playing Cards
Pre-paid phone cards (international, VFW)
Pens/Pencils
Postage is free when in combat area for them to send out)
Stamps (needed for manila envelopes and packages to send back to states,
watch out for holiday themed stamps)
Blank Holiday/Birthday cards with envelopes and stamps
Writing paper, envelopes(peel & seal flaps)Manila envelopes to mail items
back home) print up address labels for them to use on their mail they are
sending out
Scotch tape
Socks (black)
Hand warmers (depending on the time of year)
Sun Glasses
Tapes/CD's/DVd's (Amazon.com will ship to APO& FPO addresses for free if
over $25 is ordered)
Toilet paper (take out cardboard roll)
Travel games (if aboard ship, magnetic games work great)
FOOD ITEMS: any food that will last(keep in mind he shares)
BEEF JERKY is a biggie,
Baked goods, pack in pringle cans so don't get crushed
Candy (that doesn't melt easily)
Gum (No Icebreaker brand..it has an alcohol derivative)
Canned nuts
Cracker packs w/cheese whiz,
small cans of tuna, plastic forks & spoons,
canned pudding, beef summer sausage,
pork products can NOT be sent
Quickie prepackaged foods that only require you to Add Water
POWER BARS
Prepackaged Treats (nothing that goes bad,rice krispies,etc)
Instant Coffee/Hot Chocolate mix
Pre-sweetened, powdered drink mixes (Gatorade, Kool-Aid,lemonade, etc...)
Condiments,equal from fast food restaurants (to help spice up MRE's) Don't
forget Breakfast!
Sunflower seeds
*Ask stores for donations. Ask a Fast Food Chains for extra condiments they
may give you whole bags of everything they give out!
IMPORTANT INFORMATION WHEN SHIPPING TO THE PERSIAN GULF
Some Do's and Don't's
Do:
Include return addresses, so military can thank you.
Ensure correct address (Military mail is not the most efficient)Also, put
your Marines address on both the inside as well as the outside of box.
Paper tends to get ripped off in shipping, leaving no address
or return address.
Limit appears to be 70 to 75 lbs. Priority mail or insured is recommended
and a custom form must be filled out for everything except cards and
letters. Generalize..Snacks,Toiletries,Books,Magazines
Ship at least ten days prior to holidays (to ensure timely delivery)
The only package that was lost was NOT Priority mail or insured. So please
spend the couple extra dollars. If not Priority, it will go by ship and
could take 4-6 weeks.
FLAT Rate Priority envelope can be used to send magazines,etc. You can stuff
as much as this envelope will hold for a $3.85 rate.
Any packages over 16 ounces needs a customs form attached on the outside.
It was also suggested to place items in Ziplock bags. This
helps prevent powders from spilling and causing a package to
be possibly opened, inspected and thrown away.
Also, the bags come in handy for reuse. Items can be placed
in them for protection from the rain, mud, or sand.
Get others involved or do a care package as a group project
Be sure to Thank them for what they are doing for you. A simple thank you
goes a long ways far away from home!
The above restrictions were given out by the US Officials with the JOINT
TASK FORCE,SOUTHWEST ASIA
Don't:
Send pressurized items (Shaving cream, etc...)
Send chocolates (May melt all over package)
Send pornographic material (illegal in some countries)
Don't send liquor
Don't send religious items that aren't Islamic. A lot of that type of stuff
will get confiscated at customs.
