Black and Decker makes a LED flashlight that takes no batteries. You crank it to charge it, and it provides 30 minutes of light. I got one at Wally World for $10 and sending it to my son in Kuwait for those midnight latrine runs..
I just got back home after a year in Iraq (as a weenie civilian lawyer). My two cents: handi-wipes, decent reading material (i.e., not Clancy-esque crap -- there's plenty of those novels at every FOB), headphones, brand name gum and candy, drugstore.com gift certificates . . .
My son asks for :
Bags of Dunkin Donuts coffee
Gatorade and Crystal Lite powder drink mixes
Tuna fish in the foil packages
Socks
Writing paper and envelopes
Send pictures of everyone..makes the packages more personal
I have adopted some soldiers through Adopt A Platoon. There is a list of various things that can be sent in care packages at http://www.adoptaplatoon.org/new/pdf/care.pdf.
SNACK FOOD in the box. Have great nephew there now.
Ranger Joe's, US Cavalry, Brigade Quartermaster and Diamondback Tactical catalogs are always welcome.
Copied from the internet - can't verify its accuracy:
Some things we could use are:
1. Pancake mix that only needs water
2. long oven mitts that go up to the elbow. ( our outdoor grill is big and we are steadily losing all hair below the elbow).
3. cans of cheez-it. That non-refrigeration needed canned cheese.
4. sliced pepperoni
5. of course spices, recipes, etc like that
6. plasticware of spoons.
7. canned air for computers and weapons
8. one a day vitamins for men
9. Chewable Vitamin C
10. Gold Bond Foot Powder and the body powder
11. lens paper and lens cleaner for optics, scopes, goggles, Ballistic glasses and night vision devices
Here is the latest and greatest list of things we could use and want.
1. Snyder Sourdough Hard Pretzels.
2. Tortilla Chips (you would not believe how hard they are to find here) (We have lots of dip mix, but no chips)
3. Dried Fruit (for pancakes and munching)
4. Rotel
5. Shaving Cream
6. DVDs (action, comedy, drama)
7. Box sets of any TV shows
8. Nice sheets for twin sized beds
9. Good pillows like down or whatever other kind are nice
10. Pillow top mattress covers for Twin beds
11. Large Bath towels
12. Febreeze or something like it. Also there is a product called Armor Fresh for body armor.
13. denture cleaner for our camelback water systems.
14. canned air for computers and weapons
I suspect a lot depends on location. A large base has Burger King and a well stocked store. Some small FOBs have very little.
The fellow that started the site has a son who was badly injured in Iraq. See helpsteven.com
I got an email on this. They want as many people as possible to stop by and sign the guest book.
Try this wonderful site to find out directly from soldiers what they wish for.
http://anysoldier.com/
Letters... lots of letters letting them know how much we appreciate them.
Christian bookstore Heaven and Earth (national chain?) will send yer handwritten greetings/prayers free ... along with a free Bible.
they are here in tidewater va area.
go for it - we did!
Artificial tears eye drops for dry eyes
playing cards
Paper, pens
candy
BTTT
For good reading material, I recommend: 1776 by David McCullough
Great DVD movie: Tombstone with Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer
Personal care item: Old Spice antiperspirant (put in a ziplock baggie, especially if mailing when the heat returns in April)
Favorite treats: tropical fruit bits trail mix, beef jerky, canned fruit like Mandarin oranges.
High protein Power Bars.
Breath mints.
White socks.
I was always partial to the gift food packages (Swiss Colony, etc) that had lots of treats, cheese, jellies, etc in containers that are big enough to enjoy but small enough that you don't have to worry about storing or refrigerating. Some of the stuff is great for trading and sharing, too.
My grandson is a Marine on his second tour in Iraq. He requested handwarmers, inexpensive white cotton socks that they can wear a couple of days and throw away, beef jerky, babywipes, AA batteries.
I wasn't sure if the handwarmers that work when exposed to air and last 6 to 8 hours are the ones he wanted, but they are available on ebay (NAYY), inexpensive but unfortunately can't be shipped directly to Iraq thru the ebay or paypal shipping system. I have complained to ebay about this, but haven't heard anything.