Question for DUer's sending care packages to Iraq

[ChickMagic]

I adopted a soldier through "Soldier Angel" and just sent a box of goodies. She's pretty shy about asking for things (except Lemonheads- she loves those so I sent her 10 boxes). What do you find is the most appreciated goodies to send?

An aside, the middle eastern grocer who sold me the Lemonheads gave me a discount when he learned they were going to a soldier. Pretty freaking cool. What a nice guy.

[Mizmoon]

1. That is very kind of you

You're a good person.

[ChickMagic]

22. Awww

:blush:

It's the least I can do.

[JimmyJazz]

2. here's a link to books for soldiers which give hundreds of ideas

as to what the soldiers are requesting.

http://booksforsoldiers.com/forum/index.php

on edit: I see they have changed the site to now require registration. I'm sorry. I know I read from this site in the past to get ideas. :(

[Horse with no Name]

7. They aren't taking books anymore

they are too heavy to ship in to the soldiers.:(

[LynnTheDem]

12. They still take my books.

I send 2-3 boxes a month (of books) and all have arrived, so far.

Maybe coz I been doing it for 2 years now, they're too frightened to say stop coz then I might stop sending them tacos & seasoned burger, too?

:D :D :D

[Horse with no Name]

13. Maybe so but I did see on a website that they weren't

http://www.forgottensoldiers.org/donate-items_needed.shtml

>>>snip
Please Note: We are not accepting anymore books due to the added weight in relations to shipping costs.

I'm glad they are still taking yours though.:)

[LynnTheDem]

18. Could be they take mine coz I'm part of the US military?

Dunno.

But yep they take mine.

(I still say it's the tacos thing :D )

[ChickMagic]

23. Thanks for that!

I sent her a novel and a Dell crossword book. Among many other things!

[democrat in Tallahassee]

3. I sent dozens of pairs of socks. They can't really wash them

and get them clean because of the sand so they always need socks. Pasta is popular, too.

[ChickMagic]

24. Great idea!!!!!

I know they have those pasta things that you don't hae to refrigerate. Do you know if they have microwaves?

What kind of socks work well with boots?

[jilln]

4. I used to send...

homemade cookies and brownies and stuff. My friend's husband was there and he told me they can get pretty much anything they want (at least where he was, and I don't know how that compares to other camps...) and that everyone sends candy but they have TONS of candy, what they really want is baked goods.

[tabasco]

16. That's the ticket - homemade stuff.

From my experience, that kind of stuff is the best. The Army always had a small px set up wherever we went (and I mean wherever) which sold candy and junk food. But homemade stuff like brownies is coveted. And send a large amount because when you get a care package, 85% of it is immediately distributed to your buddies (the troop has to quickly hide approximately 15% for later consumption).

[Skittles]

42. NO NO NO NO NO

they are advised to throw away all homemade stuff sent from people they don't know. Sadly for security reasons.

[ChickMagic]

25. I sent her homemade chofcolate cookies

The 3 things she specifically asked for were homemade chocolate cookies, Lemonheads, Trolli worms. She got 10 boxes of Lemonheads!
I kind of had to smoosh the cookies in order to fit them into a Gladware. I told her that even if she has to eat them wtih a fork, they'll be really good.

[Horse with no Name]

5. My brother said that fruit rollups were like gold

to the soldiers. They love them.
Baby wipes are great--they can freshen up in the hot dirty desert--sometimes will cool them down. Other feminine hygiene things are appreciated as well. Also some smell good feminine toiletries--women always like to smell good.
They also like the foil packed tuna.
PHONE CARDS! Is nice to get a rechargeable one and keep the number handy so you can refill it cheaper.
sun block. chap stick. foot powder. toiletries.
Find out what music she likes and send her a CD.
Batteries.
Beef Jerky.
(they can't buy meat over there and most of them will never eat chicken again when they return home)

[JHB]

27. Baby wipes (or other moist towelettes)...

...If you send these, don't send one big box -- send bunches of travel-sized ones instead. A travel-pack is easier to carry on your person, and it's also a simpler matter to break up the bunch for trading.

[ChickMagic]

29. Great idea!

I didn't even think of the foil packed tuna! I sent Wet Ones. Does it matter what "brand" of phone card to get? She got foot powder. I sent her a funny DVD. She got Beef Jerky and Slim Jims.

Thanks for the great ideas! I'm printing all these out!

[Horse with no Name]

40. I bought an ATT one at the beast (wal mart)

Buy the cheapest one then add minutes (I think it is .03 a minute for a refill).
You can add the minutes from your credit card and you don't even need the card to do it--just keep the pin number. That way you don't have to go through the hassle and expense of buying new ones.
Also--just make sure she knows you will refill it and not throw it away.

[Coexist]

6. my friend who did two tours always asked for

current magazines. He said they really felt out of touch with the States and it helped him keep up with "real life".

Also, I sent a few model kits, and they were a surprise hit with his unit. Any personal items are appreciated.

[ChickMagic]

30. I'll add that to my list!

Thanks for the idea!

[prole_for_peace]

8. a co-workers husband is in iraq

he requested chap stick, un-scented body lotion, powdered gatorade mix, hard candy, sun-screen, baby wipes...

i can't remember the whole list

[ChickMagic]

31. I've added those to my list

Thanks a million!

[babylonsister]

9. I sent books to a DUer in Iraq who requested them.

He got them, and this was in the past two months.

[AlCzervik]

10. When my nephew was there he and his buddies all wanted crystal light powde

they could put in their water bottles. The other thing i used to send was gummy anything and cheezits were another request. The only he said not to send was anything chocolate cuz it melted.

[LynnTheDem]

11. Does she have access to a microwave oven?

Here's what I get asked for most often by my "Thirty Dozen";

-micro popcorn

-taco dinner boxes (has all but burger)

-burger (there are new foil pkgs of seasoned hamburger that are not refrigerated, just likt the tuna in foil packages.)

*Trust me, if ya send the Taco meal boxes and a cpl paks of the seasoned beef, yer gonna be named the unit's mascot. I was. LOL!

-micro Velveeta

-koolaide paks (stop laughing! Makes their water drinkable :D )

-nuts (pistachios, sunflower seeds)

-BABY WIPES

-toothpaste, deodorant, toothbrushes

-instant hand soap (no water needed)

-dental floss

-boxes crackers, flavored (Chickie in Biscuit always seems to be asked for on my lists)

-books books books. I send a boxes each mth of all types of books I pick up at 2nd hand bookstore. Troops pick out what they want, pass on the rest.

[Horse with no Name]

14. You are the bomb!

Great idea with the tacos.
My brother would have loved that when he was there.
I wish I had thought of it.

[LynnTheDem]

19. The Taco Story

I sent my hubby, a taco-fiend, several boxes, I think 6, of the taco-meal things, there's summat like a dozen shells and sauce etc per box, along with 6 paks of the seasoned burger. This was back in October 2003, when they still weren't getting anything much in the way of hot meals where he was stationed.

The taco fixings I'd packed last so they were on top when he opened the box, and were the first items he saw. Hubby said he just grabbed them and kinda tossed the box with the rest of his goodies off to the side, while he mad a made dash to the mess tent for some lettuce & tomatoes, and then a mad dash back to his trailer & his beloved microwave. He thinks he may have run over a soldier or two, but it's all hazy.

He whipped up 6 tacos for himself, said he almost wet his pants at the smell of them as they cooked.

So he grabs his plate of steaming tacos and decides he'll sit outside on his trailer step to munch them.

He opened his trailer door...and found half his unit standing outside looking at him. They'd smelled his tacos cooking.

Hubby emailed me that night, said a riot was very narrowly avoided that day. And please send more tacos. Fast.

:D

[ChickMagic]

32. I totally forgot about the foil tuna!

What great ideas! I'm goin' huntin' for taco kits!

[comsymp]

15. Do NOT send chocolate!

No candy bars, fudge, choc chip cookies, etc-
Ten or so days traveling / warehousing in extreme heat makes it pointless, according to my BIL.

Second the above suggestions re: baby wipes, batteries and magazines. Frisbees, balls, etc., are usually good. Nonperishable foodstuffs are always welcome, too: ramen, peanut butter, crackers, boxed cookies, etc.

[ChickMagic]

33. I sent chocolate cookies per her request

They're in a sealed plastic container, and she'd be willing to eat them with a spoon. I sent that, Lemonheads, Gummy Worms and Skittles.

[comsymp]

36. Guess that oughta work... nothing wrong w/a spoon

We routinely sent fudge and peanut butter balls - ziploc baggies - for my BIL and, apparently, the last time we did the inside of the box looked like it had exploded.

[ChickMagic]

37. Yipes!

Well, the cookies don't have chocolate chips or anything like that, so maybe they'll make it.

[RubyDuby in GA]

17. What we're collecting for the troops

My local county party is doing a collection drive (for as long as it takes).

One of our member's brother is a Marine currently in Iraq. He gave us a list of things that he and the people in his unit need:

*Pens and pencils (for the kids)
*Paper and envelopes
*Crystal Light individual packets
*White or black cotton socks (for when they go out on patrol, they don't have enough socks to take extra pairs with them. After a couple of days into their 6 to 7 day patrols, they don't want to keep their nasty socks on and they don't have laundry service out there, so most take their socks off and they're getting bad blisters from wearing no socks)
*White t-shirts
*Sunscreen (preferrably with a high SPF factor and sweatproof)
*Chap Stick with SPF
*Baby wipes - they only get one bath a week
*Individual packets of aspirin/advil
*Deodorant
*Toothbrushes and Toothpaste (they've been brushing their teeth with their fingers because they have no toothbrushes)
*Soap
*Foot powder
*Calling cards (it costs a fortune to use the pay phones)
*Small treats to give to the kids

[ChickMagic]

34. Added to my list!

Thanks for all the good ideas.

[Modem Butterfly]

20. Magazines, beef jerky, powdered drinks and hygene products

Particularly feminine hygene.

[Greybnk48]

21. You're not going to believe this

but the only thing I send (by request) is cases of Starbuck's Frappacino!! My daughter's S.O. is in Bagdad (just went back last Sat. after a 15 day leave).

He said that in the green zone they can buy most anything to eat, so he did not want us to send food. He buys heavy duty boot socks there because he says their boots chew up regular socks. We send books occasionally because he's an avid reader...but he told us that he is one of the only ones. Most of the people there play video games or use the computers to IM people at home or chat in their spare time.

I think the candy (no chocolate) sounds like your best bet.

[insane_cratic_gal]

26. Books, magazines, baby wipes

hard candy, batteries, any powerderd drink material, granola bars, NO chocolate! it melts and gets all over everything.

crossword puzzles, paper, envelopes, pens
ground coffee or instant hot chocolate.

[Solly Mack]

28. For women, I send tampons, PMS meds, pads,"beauty" products

disposable, all-in-way shavers (single shavers with shaving cream in the handle),hair products of all kinds, pony tail holders, etc.

Ask her about bras and panties that might be hard to get due to high demand. :) If she needs anything I can help with, let me know and I'll ship it to you to send to her. I have access to clothing sales for military. I'll be happy to help.

and the usual

powder gatorade
small funnel for gatorade(gets it into canteen easier without waste)
lip balm
lotion
organic bug repellent(lotion)
snacks/treats
gold bond powder (works for both genders)
books
movies (DVDs)
batteries (I still send them)
travel size toilet paper (easier to keep in pockets when moving around)
sunglasses(I get about 10 of the 6 dollar ones and send)
goggles
lens cleaners for both sunglasses and goggles
No rinse shampoo for the just in case (lack of water and time)
eye drops
all kinds of stuff really....

My husband spent a year in Iraq

[ChickMagic]

35. You're a doll!

Thanks for the ideas and especially the offer. I'll let you know if I need help finding anything. :hug:

[Tsiyu]

38. ginbarn, this is what we've heard to send:

But I'm sure others have a greater list than this partial one:

Baby wipes
( they really need these due to dust and lack of sanitation)
Mouthwash
Tampons
Razors
Hand Lotion
Shaving cream
Hand sanitizer
Sunblock
Rubber gloves


Pens/pencils
Notepads
Magazines
Card games
IRCs( International stamps)
Phone cards
Local papers

Potted meat: tuna, chicken, etc.
Beef jerky/dehydrated meat
Canned fruit
Raisins/dried fruit/rollups
TicTacs, mints, gum, hard candy
Thin gloves

Anything small that won't leak...baby powder and such are probably not good ideas -stuff that won't melt easily. Some soldiers want chewing tobacco or allergy medications. Best to check on those items for the particular unit.

We were told to securely wrap in brown paper, have a clear address with a specific soldier's name, and a clear return address as well.
Size was limited to "shoebox" or smaller.

This is a worthwhile thing to do, and the group in our town regularly receives letters from very grateful soldiers. Good for you for what you're doing!

[derby378]

39. Here's a thought - progressive radio archives and podcasts

ginbarn suggested nothing anti-Iraq, as this may depress soldiers on the front lines who need all the encouragement they can get from us.

But my feeling is that our troops deserve to know what * and Co. are doing back here in America. So if you do go this route, be careful - and try to keep it upbeat.

[Skittles]

41. "miss you cards"

actually, greeting cards of any kinds.

For the parents, send them something that can be easily mailed back in an envelope that is engraved LOVE FROM MOM/DAD IN IRAQ. OMG they love those. I used large heart-shaped dog tags. :D

Febreeze and air fresheners and bug repellants are REALLY popular.

I have sent dozens of care packages this war AND the last gulf war. Mailing kids' shoes and medicine to the medics is my favorite.

[TheDebbieDee]

43. Cup-of-Soups and hot sauce would probably be

very much appreciated. That was my favorite meal substitute when I was in that neck of the woods - all you needed was hot water!