What to send to Army soldier Afghanistan?
 

Little brother is deployed again, previously 3x Iraq. What to send in those priority boxes? Any creative ideas? I know some of his preferences, like he doesn't like to read and he likes pictures from my kids, letters, and ramen with the kimchi flavor. I have heard of people sending beanies since it is cold there. What are you sending to your loved ones that have been a hit or maybe not so well recieved?

Thanks Vicki, After I was posting I was thinking maybe a stocking but the little tree might be more fun.

A friend posted a notice at her "Curves" classes about my nephew in Iraq. Several of the women knit or crocheted hats for the troops. They were a BIG hit.

One year my niece made stockings for all the guys in her Hubbys platoon- then filled them with candy, cookies , small things - One of my nephews liked to get Slim Jims, home made cookies, hard candy, reeses pieces, another one wanted microwave popcorn ( make sure they have a microwave) , sunflower seeds,. They all liked the moist baby wipes, chap stick. One I made a fleece tied blanket - he loved it as it gets chilly there in the winter.

Thanks for all the great ideas. I love it. It is nice to come up with something different. Even when he was in Iraq I send one of those army fleece panels from Walmart. When he thanked us for the box he sepperately mentioned it. Not sure if he hang it up or used it as it was super warm there.

I also heard about sending hotel size or travel size personal items, if he doesn't use them, them maybe his friends.

Fairly thin skull caps to wear under the helmets. Fill all the holes in the packing with hard candy and gum.

My husband says WARM socks, stocking caps, warm gloves, hygeine stuff, jerky, newspapers from home, magazines, homemade cookies, his favorite candies, pictures of family. He also says that flea collars are good to help with the sand fleas. They will put them around their ankles. My husband is a Veteran from the Viet Nam Era and he says this is some of the stuff that he would have wanted if someone in his family would have sent him care packages. But sadly they didn't and I didn't know him back in those days or I would have sent him tons of packages.

One thing I was doing for a friend stationed over there is to get those pouches that heats up they have one for gloves and one for feet. They pop the pouch and it gives them a few hours of heat its great to go into their gear. I also sent over the LL Bean thermal tops and bottoms they are like the Under Armour in style but not bulky. I'd also send them socks, they don't last long with the amount of time the spend in their boots.
We send Capri Sun pouches or juice boxes, those little packs of crackers and cheese or crackers and peanut butter, those little sleeves of various flavored nuts, I'd send them some candy canes at this time of year, and maybe some hardcandy, you can send them over the pouches of hot chocolate, I'd go to the dollar store and you can find little trees and decorations. Being away from home is hard on them even worse at the holidays. I'd send them some Christmas music but do the up beat songs (Jingle Bell Rock, Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer).

Well he send a message back with his shoe size, hand size and a request for personal hygiene products. He also asked me to say hi to the children. Needless to say he is not a man of many words. LOL It sounds like he might be interested in warm garments.

We had a talk by the British Legion about sending boxes to the troops. From what I remember the list included things such as. Toothpaste, toothbrushes, wet wipes, moisturiser, razors,lip balm, mints, chewing gum, biscuits (cookies),boiled sweets,( definitely no chocolate)hand cream, tissues, shampoo. All these personal items are difficult for them to attain. Another thing that was suggested was to include some Christmas cards for them to send home to their family, as they cannot obtain them. Another thing was childrens paint brushes, as they use them for cleaning out their rifles.If I think of any more items I will post. Sorry but I seem to have misplaced the list.

Sall that is a great list already. If you find more info please post. Thanks.

more ideas
 

Just a few more ideas. Crossword puzzle books or soduko books, soft small rubber basketballs,footballs, yo-yo's, hand held cheapo computer games like Tetris or poker. I frequently shop the toy sections in Walmart or K-Mart type stores and find little things to stuff in the box. In the winter I do send chocolate things, seems to arrive okay, jellybeans, individual oatmeal packets, popcorn, chips, jerkey, poptarts,magazines (sports or hunting/gun, popular mechanics, men's health) (I find older magazines at the thrift stores) any of the microwaveable single servings(spagetti o's, chili, mac & cheese), the foil packets of chicken or tuna, Little Debbie boxed snacks,(they're indiviually wrapped), Crystal Lite individual packets. I've also maded small pillow cases and sent 2 with a small travel size pillow, hand and foot warmers, socks(I get the regulation color tan or green at the Army-Navy Store.

I have so much fun shopping the variety stores and collecting "stuff" to stick in the box. I "adopt" soldiers from AdoptaPlatoon Organization, so I don't know the soldiers, until I get the ball rolling with a letter of introduction. I always tell them whatever I send they don't want, I assume they are sharing or giving it away. And at Valentine's Day, or Halloween and Christmas, I send large bag candy and include a box of Ziploc snack size baggies so they can share.

Doing this is one the most important things in my life right now. "till they all come home."
Susan
North Idaho

Just remebered a couple more items.. Powdered soup packets, and immodium tablets or similar (these are for diaharrea) Also ladies, do not forget our femail military, so some nice smelling things.

We had a young man just back from Afghanistan speak to our Bible study group that said they love to get q-tips. They use
them to keep their weapons clean from the sand.

I just left Afghanistan six weeks ago and we went crazy for the homemade baked goods like lemon bars, peanut butter and chocolate chip cookies, moist brownies with and without nuts, planters flavored nuts are a big hit. He would LOVE very small pocket-size wipes, lotions, sanitizer, portable toothbrushes and creams. Small soaps and shampoos for the shower. These thing must be able to fit into our cargo pockets. The knitted goods are fine but can't be worn during missions but they would love pocket crosses and rosaries that camoflage friendly too.

why not a lap quilt in patriotic colors, I have given several quilts to relatives and friends and they really appreciate them, if not patriotic, scrappy,,, I also make socks out of fleece and give them to men and women, they love them and they are super warm

Our nephew appreciated deoderants, foot powder (hot climate and the feet sweat badly) cotton socks for when off duty, lip balm, and baby wipes. We also sent granola bars, protein bars, and pringle chips in the tubes. We even sent over gun oil to clean his rifle, but remember, this is the Canadian military.

Some great ideas here. Thanks to all of you. My grandson is in Afghanistan right now. I sent him some of his favorites at Thanksgiving. I think I will make him a stocking and send it for Christmas. Maybe I'll send an extra for him to give to someone who doesn't get care packages.

When my husband would go overseas I would send him canned meats, sardines, jerky, hard candy, wool socks, anything that does not spoil, food wise. Every paperback book I could find. Some times the mail gets delayed and things spoil.
Ask him what he needs the most, my husband wanted a curtain for his bunk one time with pockets on it.

My hubby loved all the microwaveable stuff when he was deployed. Like the hamburger helper singles. And the little brownie bowl thing that goes in the microwave. They have all sorts of things set in single potions at the grocery store. Any of that is fun. I don't know if your brother is anything like my hubby but the best care packages were always the ones filled with the most food lol.

I got a note and he is living in a tent but has his own room in the tent made out of boards of plywood. He needs a pillow case. LOL Last time I send a pillow case but he did not need one so I am glad he mentioned. I quickly made one to still go in the box. The kids wrote their notes and I got pictures printed to put with it. It should go off soon and the rest will just have to go in the next box. He just left so we got some months to go. For those that pray, please keep praying for all those deployed and their families at home. Brother has a wife and two little ones waiting for him.