They Won't Be Home For The Holidays: A Quick Guide To Care Packages For Miltary Personnel

October 19, 2003 | VOA(me)

[BushisTheMan]

Already I've copied over several suggestions that I plan to use:

• international phone card
• books
• DVDs
• cigarettes/cigars
• long underwear
• wash cloth and towel (absorbent type/lightweight)
• calendar of America themes
• stationery supplies

I always send him American food/candy/cookies and various types of toiletries. However, for the Christmas package, I wanted something taht I can wrap in Christmas paper for him to open or to give to his friends, if he so chooses. I might just stick in Xmas paper, Scotch tape, and ribbon so he can wrap his gifts too.

Thanks to everyone for the great suggestions.

[NEPA]

Another very much appreciated item is bug spray or lotion.

My nephew in Baghdad also requests snacks and hard candy. He says they don't always make it in the best condition but they taste the same so he doesn't care.

He also requests specific books, CDs, and DVDs (we sent him a portable DVD player).

Books and magazines are good for trading once the service person is done with them.

[VOA]

Luckily, I was able to exchange e-mails with a Chaplin in Baghdad and thus he gave
me a prioritized list of school supplies his unit needs to help their adopted elementary school

Just to update...
I e-mailed the Chaplain (sp!) yesterday that I'd mailed his requested supplies.
He has already sent me a short e-mail thank you and an attached photo of the Iraqi
students standing in front of their school.

Just for the interests of full disclosure, folks know I've been honest (and sometimes
blunt) in expressing my feelings that Islam is a real problem.
But at the same time, the "love your neighbor" and "love your enemy" themes
are great themes of this country, regardless of where you stand on "church and state".

Anyway, I just wanted to mention this so that when fellow freepers see me criticizing
Islam/Muslims on some other thread, you'll know that while I have mixed emotions
on the topic,
I'm not a hypocrite for sending supplies that I truly hope will do good for
children and teachers in a broken, but rebuilding, country.

[snippy_about_it]

Please pass along a big THANK YOU to your nephew for his service. :)

[VOA]

Books and magazines are good for trading once the service person is done with them.

Thanks for checking in with suggestions.
And backing up my assertion that all our good posters/lurkers not spend great
time/energy picking out a service-person or the type of items they send...
because the US Military is the biggest force of "re-gifters" history
has ever seen.

If they can't use what they receive, they'll find someone who can!!!

So, that's why I keep telling folks to "JUST DO IT!"
(and don't be a slug like I was!)

[VOA]

thanks-for-the-bump bump

[VOA]

He also requests specific books, CDs, and DVDs (we sent him a portable DVD player).

Wow. I almost get a little drippy thinking about watching "It's A Wonderful Life"
during a holiday season posted overseas...
There's a reason to pack some hankies in the box...

[snippy_about_it]

Has anyone gotten mail where the soldiers have specifically asked for some specific items? If so, please post.

I have but it has always been pretty specific, like peppermint tea, gummy bears and stationary for three particular troops I sent to.

What I find works is just going through the grocery thinking about what I'd like to have out there, knowing the limits of the facilities.

This is how I came up with the boxed drinks and small cans of fruit and applesauce.

Oh, I also had a request for saltines specifically.

The snack "combos" those little hard pizza roll up snacks travel well as does peanut butter and jelly, get plastice jars.

Some of these things add weight but it is worth the extra cost if you can afford it.

Good luck.

[VOA]

This is how I came up with the boxed drinks

Thanks for the great list of specific suggestions.

One question about boxed (fruit) drinks:
Are packets of Kool-Aid (with artificial sweetner so sugar isn't needed) acceptable
as a light-weight alternative to shipping relatively the boxed drinks
(which are relatively heavy due to the water content?

Just wondering if there is some drawback to the light packets of Kool-Aid,
e.g., lack of decent water supply on the ground.

[snippy_about_it]

As long as they have water available I'm sure it's a good idea. They can pour some in their bottled water and make it taste even better!

Good thinking!

[ASOC]

we have a friend of our sons that's a Bagdaddy - Koolaid is the one thing he will always take (and beef jerky) - the treated water tastes like.....sh err- well, not real good. Small packets better than big packets. Think - 1 and 2 Qt canteen.

Every leter is a good day, every box is Christmas!

[windchime]

Bump for Holiday Packages!!

[VOA]

Good thinking!

Actually, the Kool-Aid for our military wasn't my brain-child.
My memory may be stumbling here, but I think that Kool-Aid packets were a requested
item for improving water (actually masking objectionable taste/smell) was something
I heard about during the Vietnam War era.

And that was even when you had to find sugar to make Kool-Aid!

[VOA]

Every letter is a good day, every box is Christmas!

You must be an advertizing hot-shot...
you found the punch-line slogan I've been stumbling to find since the top of
this thread!

[VOA]

Bump for Holiday Packages!!

Thanks for your bump...bump

[VOA]

Every letter is a good day, every box is Christmas!

A slogan so nice,
I had to repeat it twice!

OK...time to take a break...

[blackie]

I'm here too serve.

[sneakers]

Thanks for the replies. I don't just want to send "stuff". I want to send things they really want. Things that they need to make their life there a bit more comfortable, but also things that will make them smile and give them a 'little bit of home' and make life a bit more tolerable - DVD's, CD's, sports equipment (baseballs, footballs, etc.)books, etc.

[windchime]

You're welcome bump!

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

A few links with handy tips:

8 Deadlines Set For Holiday Mailings

8 Fisher House Joins Agencies Distributing 'Gifts From the Homefront'

8 Care Package ~ Mail Tips