Care Packages

[Brandi]

What are some of your SO's favorite things to receive in a care package? Did you do holiday themed packages? If so, what types of things did you include for the different holidays? Any creative idea for what the kids can send daddy? Is there anything I can't send? Do you know of any tips or tricks or packing/sending them? How often should I send one? Additional ideas or thoughts?

Please see our Military Care Packages page for basic ideas and suggestions- http://militarysos.com/index.php?pag...-care-packages

Drinks:
* PreSweetened KoolAid
* PreSweetened Lemonade
* Powdered Gatorage
* Instant Coffee
* Crystal Lite



Food/Snacks:
* Granola Bars
* Power Bars
* Cereal Bars
* Kraft Handi-Snacks
* Snack Crackers (cheese, peanut butter, etc)
* Pop Tarts
* LifeSavers, Certs, TicTacs, Gum, Lollipops, Hard Candies
* Individually packaged pies/cakes (little debbie)
* Rice Krispie Treats
* Chips & Dip
* Jello Pudding Snack Packs
* Cookies
* Trail/Chex Mix
* Nuts and Raisins
* Slim Jims/Beef Jerky
* Individual Applesauce or Fruit Cups
* Tuna Salad kits
* Cups of Soup/Noodles
* Instant Oatmeal
* Individually Boxed Cereal


Free Time:
* Dice
* Disposable Camera
* DVDs & VHS Movies
* Music CDs
* Electronic Hand Held Games
* Computer Games
* Frisbees
* Puzzle Books, Mad Libs, Joke Books, Comic Books
* Newspapers, magazines, paperback books
* Jump rope
* Stress ball
* Travel board games
* Mini Etch-A-Sketch
* Playing Cards
* Crossword Puzzle
* Books
* Blank Greeting Cards
* Stationary, journals, return address labels (or SASE)
* Radio headsets
* Drawing pads
* Construction paper
* Batteries
* Prepaid Calling Cards

Hygiene:
* Toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash, dental floss, breath strips
* Soap with case, shower gel, anti-bacterial hand soap, hand sanitizer
* Nail files (emery boards), nail clippers, tweezers
* Q-tips, cotton balls
* Toothpicks
* Baby powder
* Shampoo, conditioner, hair gel, hairspray (pump)
* Lotion, Avon skin-so-soft
* Eye drops (moisturizing), saline mist nose spray
* Travel size Kleenex
* Deodorant
* Combs, brushes
* Contact lens cleaner
* Disposable razors, shaving cream, aftershave lotion
* Baby wipes, Clorox wipes
* Writing paper, envelopes, black ink pens, mechanical pencils
* Lip balm, Chap Stick, sunscreen (bottle & roll on kind), Bug Off
* Bath towel, wash cloth (dark colors)
* Motrin, Tylenol, Benadryl, Cough Drops
* Band-aids, Neosporin, Hydrocortisone cream, Calamine Lotion


Misc/Comfort:
* Ziplock bags (for various storage)
* Freshly washed pillow case, blanket or sheet that smells like home
* Cigars/Cigarettes
* Sewing Kit
* Sunglasses
* Flash Light
* Mini Fans
* "Stick 'em" Air Fresheners
* Letters
* Family Pictures
* Sexy Pictures
* Homemade things from the kids

Make a military Survival Kit-

These fun kits are made simply by adding all of the "ingredients", printing the list of items and their meaning and putting it all in a bag. These are inexpensive to make.


Military Survival Kit -
• Lifesavers - to remind you that that's what you are
• Single serving of drink mix - "Instant drink" add water and shake, for when you are on maneuvers
• Match - To light your fire when you're feeling burned out
• Smarties - To help you on those days when you don't feel smart
• Mounds Bar - to remind you of the mounds of love & support you have from friends & family
• Tape- To fix things that will not work
• Confetti- To remind you to have fun
• Starburst - To give you a burst of energy on days when you don't have any
• Pack of Gum - to help your unit stick together
• Cotton Ball - to cushion the rough roads
• Rubber Band - To stretch yourself beyond the limits
• String - To tie things together when everything falls apart
• Penny - We all need a little luck
• A Marble- For when you lose yours
• Battery - To give you that extra charge to keep you going... and going.
• Piece of Rope - When you reach the end of yours, this will keep you going a bit longer
• Sample pack of Excedrin - Thank you, I know this job can be a headache
• Paperclip - to hold it all together
• Hershey Hug- to let you know there's always someone on your side
• Mint - because you are worth a mint
• Phone cards- reminder to call home
• Candle - to light up the darkness
• Tootsie Roll - to help you roll with the punches
• Laughy Taffy- to remind you to laugh
• Jolly Rancher - to remind you how sweet things can be
• Map of USA- so you will never be far from home.
• Yellow Ribbon-So you will know you will always be supported till you come home
• Bag- To help you keep it all together

Suggestions:

The post office has an all you can jam in it, flat rate box you can get for free, fill up, bring back and ship for less than $10 each with express delivery. It's white - just ask for it.

Send plastic forks and spoons. The package may get x-rayed and a fork or spoon may look a little funny, which could cause the package to be rejected.

Do themed packages and be sure to include ones for the holidays!

When you write a letter, spray some of your perfume on it.
When you send a box, spray your perfume in the box on things.

Send as many boxes and as many letters as possible! Set a date, like every 2 weeks send something or just once a month on the 12th.

Fill up extra space with loose candy.

...and remember, sending ENOUGH TO SHARE (of anything) with buddies is a plus!

[ash]

I used to send a lot of baked goods, he liked having something that i had put time into and showed that I was thinking of him.

i made mix CDs a LOT

Sent things like his favorite brand of pens to write with, pictures ALL the time of not just me but of our hometown as well

Cards, either ones i made or bought, it didnt matter, cards can be sweet or funny and you can still write a letter in them!

I have made some things that kids could definitely make , make handmade cards really easily, if you have a sizzix punch out the shapes for them and have them glue them to the paper, or just cut out different chunks of colored paper and let the kids design a card.

Another good thing to do that i did once with our dog is if your kids are small and growing, do handprints occassionally if they are deployed or gone for a long time. really, anything that can remind them of home and make them know that you are thinking of them is what i think puts the "care" in care package

Baked goods are a must for my df. He loves when I send him cookies especially. We haven't done a deployment yet, but when we do in the fall, I plan on sending him a different type of cookie or baked good each month.

He also loves snacks of any kind. I try to send things that he can eat incase he misses a meal, like tuna pouches, beef jerkey, nuts, things like that. Obviously he also likes treats like candy and chocolate too.

Phone cards are good (as long as they can be used on the ship), stamps and envelopes for him to write you, undershirts, underwear, socks. Basics like shampoo and soap and things like that he may run out of.

The most important thing that he always wants are pictures. I've started a new thing where I just take pictures on my digital camera and just send him the memory card. That way he can just pop it in his laptop or palm pilot and look at them. I can send 100 that way way easier than sending actual physical photos.

[Tiffany]

What are some of your SO's favorite things to receive in a care package? He loves getting food, basic items he needs, and cards. Did you do holiday themed packages? If so, what types of things did you include for the different holidays? I sent him themed packages for every holiday he was gone. For Christmas I sent him a singing dog stocking filled with his favorite candy. Is there anything I can't send? This may seem funny but you can not send him naked pictures or any kind of pornography. Do you know of any tips or tricks or packing/sending them? Lots of tape and always get the insurance. How often should I send one? Send as many as you can. Mail and packages are the highlights of their life while underway. Additional ideas or thoughts? Make it personal.

[MW5M]

Fudge. Every box I sent always had homemade fudge. Ohh and real cigarettes. The ones they sell overseas arent real?

[rosebud*]

I would send Dh the prepacked tuna because he loved it and gatorade mix. The kids would make pictures and I would take pics of them doing that and then send him that. I have a photo printer so it is easy for me to print out pics as I take them. I also sent him plenty of sunflower seeds for when the smoke pit would be closed and all kinds of candy and gum. I sent him a valentines box with love notes and valentine candy. And for his birthday I sent him a b-day package with some cd's he wanted and handheld game. I would also send him lots of toiletries since he hardly had time to get to the ships store.

[Chelly]

I normally send my dh 2 packages. One for the things he needs, like white t-shirts, underwear, deodorant, body wash, toothpaste, new toothbrush.. basically the neccessites. He's an MM so things get real dirty and nasty down there. The second package I send has the goodies in it. The last one I sent him had-dry gatorade mix, his favorite cookies, a hand-held poker game (a reminder of how he taught me how to play) a mousepad that had my picture on it (he loves his computer) letters, pictures.. and things like that.

I always pick things he likes and things that will help his time be a little bit easier. Care packages to me are about letting him know you miss and love him. His cruise was from March to September so we didn't have any big holidays to celebrate except our birthdays.

The one thing you have to know is that is takes a while before they get them, so send them early..it took mine 2 months to get to him. Make sure any liquids (or anything that can leak) are sealed in a ziploc bags.

Calling cards sometimes aren't a good idea to send because some ships only accept a certain kind or none at all.. Brian's ship only used the ones they sold. I sent him some not knowing but fortunately he was able to use them when he was in port somewhere.

Hi all!

This is only my 3rd post or so on this board, and I have a question about care pkgs.......I have read the posts and most of you seem to be sailor's SO's, and I am not sure if the situations are the same for needing to mail pkg's to my soldier who will be stuck in the litterbox. He's shipping out July 1, and I dont want to promise him home baked goodies if I cant deliver.

Anyone out there have ideas on how and IF I can send baked goods etc? Non perishables I can work with, but I am not sure how to send the yummy stuff with the heat/mailing time and all.

Thanks a bunch!
Cindy

Can I send like portable DVD players? Like those hand held ones?

Well this is our first deployment so I am still learning. So far I have sent candy, his other headphones, journal, paper, envelopes, pens, pictures, water guns, bubbles, gum, mints, cards, stickers and dryer sheets. He has requested his chew and his friends chew. I am going to send a pillow case with our pictures on it. I will also send a little stuffed animal as a joke. Well it is a frog with a crown so I am going to say "I have kissed enough toads and have found my prince" I keep trying to get him to tell me and he is not giving me any ideas. Oh yea I have to buy some 360 games and movies. If and when I get extra money I am going to buy him a new Ipod since somebody thought it would really cool to take his(on the first day of all days).