Care Package Ideas

Like many of you, I have sent a whole lot of care packages out.  While DH was deployed, I became very familiar with the local post office.

I thought you might like to see some of the ideas and tips I have for creating your own care packages to your soldier(s) and I am hoping you will share some of your own.

Some tips:

• Reminders from home: If you know a soldier or live near his home town, many soldiers are comforted by news from home, well wishes from friends and family, and images of their home town. Take some pictures and get everyone to write a message on the back of the photograph. Gather up some local products that will ship well and send a care package.
• Make sure to write: Regardless of whether you are offering your support to an old friend or a new friend you found on a website, do not underestimate the value of a simple letter. Soldiers like to know that we are behind them and appreciate their loyalty and their sacrifices.
• Postage to Iraq is the same as sending anything to a domestic destination.
• Consider using priority mail: Letters and packages tend to arrive more reliably (anecdotally) through priority mail. Priority mail is not much more costly than regular 1st class and can make the difference in your package arriving eventually and arriving in a timely manner (especially important when sending baked goods). Packages may take up to 20 days, but I spoke with a postal worker whose son is deployed and he said most packages arrive in 10-12 days.  That has been my experience as well.
• Get free boxes: If you plan on sending a lot of packages, you can order FREE priority boxes from USPS, including a special kit for sending to soldiers (you still have to pay postage, but they'll send you the boxes and labels).
• Be personal: Iraq now has a number of P/X (Post Exchanges) that sell most of the items soldiers need. So, as per this article posted at The Patriette, sending specialty or local products is more in need now than razors and baby wipes. At the same time, some soldiers are not near a P/X and would still appreciate those essentials. Soldiers also share and any care package will be put to good use. When in doubt, just ask!
• Items not to send: Pressurized items should not be sent through the mail and some items are prohibited to our troops in theater, such as alcohol or pornography. Here's a list from Boots on the Ground.
• For the bakers out there: Nestle has some Tips for Sending Baked Goods. Others suggest adding a slice of bread to absorb excess moisture and wrapping in tin foil. I've also heard that Pringles containers make for good packaging. I have bought a food sealer to use for our Family Readiness Group (FRG) that works great for cookies. For brownies I wrapped them in paper towels and then in a ziplock with the air squeezed out, and then in bubble wrap. Remember that chocolate does not survive well in the Middle East (although chocolate baked into items does better).

THEMES

There are a number of websites that provide suggestions, soldier "wish lists," and possible theme ideas for CARE packages. Here are some theme ideas for me--most can be adapted for personal use or for an FRG.

1. Work It Out!: sneaker balls; deodorant; Gatorade powder; hydroxy cut; power bars; cheap headphones; cheap tape players; workout CDs/Tapes; white gym socks (no logo)
2. Cookie Mania: everyone bakes a batch and we vacuum seal them
3. Night at the Movies: Inexpensive or pre-viewed DVD movies; stove top popcorn; individual size movie-candy packs; entertainment magazines (like Rolling Stone); add favorite movie quotes to a poster; take pics of kids/do DVD recording with star shape in background and with sunglasses
4. Game Night: Poker Chips; Board Games; Packs of Cards; hand-held games and puzzles; nut mix; snack packs
5. Texas Misses Y'all (adjust for your own state): Buy a stack of Texas postcards for people to fill-out at the meeting (for their own and other soldiers); include pictures of favorite area spots; pralines or pecan cookies or muffins; Texas pens; Texas stationery; Longhorn stuff; anything useful with a Texas theme; hot sauce; BBQ sauce
6. Breakfast in Bed: Breakfast Bars, Individual Cereal Snack Packs, Powdered Juice Mix, Coffee, hot/cold mugs (saw them for $1 at Walmart), muffins; powdered creamer; instant oatmeal; poptarts
7. Winter Wonderland: hot cocoa mix; cider mix; winter cookies; have older kids/parents make and sign paper snowflakes and paste to construction paper; chapstick; hot/cold mugs (saw them for $1 at Walmart); marshmallows
8. Luck O' the Irish: make a "kiss me I'm Irish" poster with shamrocks and kisses; send Hershey kisses if still cool enough out; good luck charms; St. Patrick's themed cookies
9. Take Me Out to the Ball Game: Cracker Jacks; Peanuts; Sports Illustrated Magazine and other sports magazines; sports highlights DVDs; gum with baseball cards; Nerf Balls; beef jerky; favorite team pennants
10. Are You Ready for Some Football?: Highlights DVDs, Sports Magazines, Team Pennants; Regulation and Nerf Footballs; pretzels and chips and salsa; posters of cheerleaders and football stars

Let us know YOUR ideas and tips!

Comments

[Michelle]

Great tips! We have a deployment shortly after Christmas. If you don't mind, I am going to print this out for the squadron commanders' wives so they can pass it on to their Key Spouses.

I fell into the trap of communicating via e-mail and sending cards with care packages or ocassionally on their own. After about 2 months my dh made it clear that he would love to get an actual handwritten letter or a card with handwritten sentiments included over packages any day. I felt so bad!!! I've not made that mistake again. And, I pass that little tip on to people ad nauseam. :)

[Rick]

When deployed:
Biggest morale booster = Mailcall
Biggest bummer= not having your name called at mailcall

[Deltasierra]

I've been pretty bad about sending packages this year. However, I sent a lot of letters when I could (and when he could receive them). I hope that I will be better about it next time he's deployed, but I'm not going to think that far ahead right now. :)

I do like this list, though! I think I'll save it for next time. :)

[k]

Sweet Dreams - 1. make/buy a no-sew fleece blanket (good for snuggling in winter, good for wall art/door curtain/bunk separator in summer). Spray it with your perfume/cologne 2. Hershey's Hugs & Kisses hot cocoa mix & mug 3. Framed photo or collage 4. Mushy letter/card 5. Any other sentimental/love token you can think of

[Molly Pitcher]

Pass along freely!

Another idea I remembered--our FRG ironed pictures onto pillow cases. This way your sweetie can fall asleep with you.

[Stephanie]

A suggestion from the Marines themselves for the wives/girlfriends, via my Marine:

Sleep with a blanket for several days, add your perfume and seal it in a plastic bag. It will smell just like you when it gets there, and your man will very much appreciate it.

When I think about how much I treasured the few items of clothing I stole for my boyfriend's last deployment, I know how true this has to be!

I also added perfume to any piece of paper I sent, especially the books. He said he would literally bury his nose in the books when he was reading during down time! He brought a few books home and the perfume is still there, so it definitely lasts.

I sent cards. Lots of cards. Silly cards, sappy cards, you name it. We communicated pretty much only through email every few days, so a letter wasn't something I sent regularly; I would usually tell him everything in an email anyway. But, cards were personal and tangible, so I sent a ton. I still have some that I bought throughout those months, I bought that many! Actually, he still gets some from me since we are in a long distance relationship now. He just grins at my card addiction now - it's all his fault anyway.

[Jacintha]

valentines day is coming! personally i dont expect much and i know not to, the px where William is at isnt the greatest! probably more tshirts! but i found these chocolate roses at the store, so im sending roses, and i bought a stuffed frog that ive been sleeping with so it will smell like home. today at walgreens i bought one of those tiny balloons on a stick so hes getting flowers balloons and candy! i try to send things you wouldnt think of putting in a care package,and so far hes always been surprised! as well i take disposable cameras every where, and i send packs of pictures almost monthly, i try to take a picture of SOMETHING every day so he can always see what were doing back home...i know im corny..but he loves the pics,he carries almost a dozen in his wallet and his walls are covered in his tiny room. hes got a ton now, im going to have to send a plastic box for him to ship them home in...

[kristen]

I sent my boyfriend a rice krispy cake for his birthday, i made a batch of home made rice krispies and cut them to a personal cake size, and added those sugar pieces you can buy in the cake isle at the grocery store that spelled out happy birthday

[Nicole]

Lots of great ideas! I've been compiling ideas for sending over and this really helps.

I put all of my ideas on a blog so I have access to them all in one place and so I can help anyone else needing ideas. If anyone needs some fun themed or practical ideas the address is http://carepackagefun.blogspot.com

[Perfume]

These ideas are great as a springboard to content for our sites......

[perfumes for men]

well i totally agree with teh above post .I thought you might like to see some of the ideas and tips I have for creating your own care packages to your soldier and I am hoping you will share some of your own.

[Sandy]

I've sent two themed care boxes and both were a hit! I sent a Mullet wig...theme: "Friends don't Let Friends wear Mullets!" Sent 'hair care products' and a styrofoam head for the wig. I don't ask, was just told they all LOVED the Mullet. The other one I sent was "The Hawaiin Lua" box...had a grass skirt and coconut bra in it. Told the guys if I did not get a picture, no more boxes!!LOL!! Had pineapple juice cans, macadamia nuts, a Hawaiin girl bobble head for the Strker etc. I did send one..."Eskimo Kisses from Alaska at -50. Had all kinds of alaskan themed stuff. I LOVE ding the boxes. Was told to think you are sending stuff to a 12 year old.

[send packages to the philippines]

I've learned a lot from this post. Thank you very much, I'm planning to send a packages to my relatives in province, this is a big help.

-urieqo-

[Sharon]

Remember to be creative and have fun. They are the most appreciated cause someone thought about it.
Ones I've done... Halloween - I got one of those collapsable TorT pumpkins, put in some of the snack size teddygrahams krispy treats and scoobydoo cookies. Add a few indiv jerky snacks. Just a couple of candies too. Added a simple foam mask and a light stick. Thanksgiving - I sort of had the whole meal. A shelf microwave turkey dinner, popcorn, dried cranberries, pumpkin seeds, etc. Have also added a baseball movie and baseball themed toys to baseball box. Recently did life's a beach. Suncare items, beach towel, flipflops, beach ball (sandboxtoys if they'll fit into the box). Chinese NewYear - fortune cookies, paper lanterns, ramen soup, and chopsticks. Add extra soy and duck sauce from the local chinese takeout.

[boxes to the Philippines]

Brilliant ideas you have here.Thanks for sharing it!

-Stephanie

[Kurt]

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Just $5 plus $4.95 shipping to anywhere in the U.S.A.
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