I had the opportunity this week to talk to my brother Ryan about his his deployment, where he is, sleeping conditions, weather conditions, job duties, and about his wish list. I was a bit surprised by his answers but comforted when he said he looks forward to mail call. A lot of his fellow soldiers are not as lucky as others and don’t get the letters or care packages from home. Which is why I’m writing this note. The holidays are quickly approaching and although our troops are over seas they would really love the comforts of home about this time of year. Any package sent prior to December 11th will arrive before Christmas. If you want to make a solider feel good this holiday send your thoughts, pictures of home, anything that reminds them that we love them.
The 10 soldiers that accompany my brother in his squadron all share their care packages with each other so that no one feels left out. Think of this idea as a secret Santa - and Ryan is Santa! Below is a slighted edited list or not only items on Ryan’s wish list but any solider overseas. Please add any of your items that have been purchased (as a comment below). Hopefully this motivates everyone that reads this site can see what everyone else has purchased and maybe pitch in on the items that are still needed. I hope and believe that this should help keep up our soldiers spirits and give them something to look forward to each couple of weeks.
So to sum it all up - “sharing is caring” - and lets spread the wealth - no one wants to be left out.
BEST ITEMS TO SEND (G R E A T for Trading)
*”Guy” magazine - Guns & Ammo, hunting, fishing, hot rods.
* Air Freshers
* One more thing but I forget….I’ll add this item later
Remember: * Keep weight limits in mind. The solider will have to carry or throw away most of what you send.
* Powdered Gatorade
* Ramen noodles.
* Batteries, especially D’s and AA’s. Do not ship packages with batteries actually inside the electronic device.
* Stationery supplies - paper, envelopes, pens. LOTS of it.
* Homemade cookies.
* Hard candy. Chocolate is dehydrating, and it will melt and make a mess.
* Pictures - they’ll make them feel like a part of your family. We suggest sending pictures of where you live/local scenery.
* Homemade cards, handwritten letters, pictures drawn by your kids (if you have them).
* Newspaper clippings and comics.
* CD’s
* Books, if you know what they like to read. Mysteries are usually good. Paperbacks, please; no hardbacks (too heavy).
* Qtips and pipe cleaners, for cleaning their weapon.
* Ivory soap - if he/she has to bathe in a river, it will float. Two small bars is better than one big one.
* Chew, cigars, tobacco, cigarette papers.
* Green or black boot socks
* New brown T-shirts.
* Warm clothes to wear under their uniforms
* Blankets (that have been washed and dried so when they open their care package it smells like home)
* Shaving equipment. Make sure the shaving cream isn’t in an aerosol can, as some of those are being removed from packages. Send shaving gel instead.
* Disposable cameras.
* UNO Cards
* Sardines.
* If you know they are deployed in the Middle East, they can use bug repellent (like Deep Woods Off) to keep the sand fleas off.
* Beef jerky. Be sure it’s BEEF, though, since pork products are not permitted in the Middle East.
* Small packages of ground coffee or instant hot chocolate.
* Word games, like crossword puzzles, anagrams, word search games, etc.
* Nuts, sunflower seeds, trail mix, crackers.
* Sunscreen.
* Mail order catalogs, so military personnel can shop for friends/family back home.
* Big Ziploc bags, to store things in and keep them dry and sand-free.
* Seasonings for the MRE’s, including Mrs. Dash, hot sauce, and Tabasco sauce.
* Quaker instant oatmeal (take the packets out of the box before mailing)
* Instant espresso powder (again, put the powder in a Ziploc-easier to transport)
* Waterproof sunscreen, sealed in a Ziploc bag. Aloe Vera lotion is good, too - the heat is brutal!
* Baby wipes (individually packaged ones). Send periodically as replacements.
* Toothpaste, toothbrushes, and dental floss.
* Deodorant
* Lotion. Remember, keep the bottles small, and put them in a plastic Ziploc bag before packing them.
* Toilet paper and small packages of Kleenex.
* Throat lozenges
* Eye drops
* Lip balm
* Pain relievers, like Tylenol, Aspirin, Motrin, etc.
* Jock itch powder. Again, remember to pre-pack it in a Ziploc bag.
* Foot powder, packed in a Ziploc bag.
* Goggle-type sunglasses, and eyeglass wipes (in a small Ziploc, to help keep out the sand)
* Moleskin for sore feet.
* Prepaid phone cards.
* Tuna lunch-to-go packs.
* Meal replacement drinks, such as Ensure. Look for the kind that come in lightweight bottles instead of cans.
* Chips in vacuum-packed cans rather than in bags, such as Pringles.
* If you know your soldier is in the desert or jungle, consider sending along a miniature personal fan, as well as plenty of appropriate-sized batteries.
*** DO NOT send anything that is scented to the Middle East; it attracts bugs. (unless it’s an air fresher..no aersol)
*** DO NOT send things that require refrigeration or a lot of preparation.
* Include a card inside the package that gives your name, the recipients name, and the list of contents. That way, if a package breaks open during shipping/sorting, the contents can be reassembled and continue on to their destination.
Happy shopping!