I startet to get into a "donate to a soldier" type website, my dad tells me he doesn't believe they are...

Question

needing anything... He's telling me not to get sucked in, & that as much money as the government is pumping into this war.. these soldiers are not needing toothpaste, toothbruches, soaps, etc.. but eat full meals & are not fighting in the type of war that I imagine.. he is a vet and has been on the front lines before... what do you think???

Answer 1

Seeing that I am currently deployed I can only tell you how I feel about care packages.
THEY ARE FREAKING AWESOME!!!
Now true, soilders deployed in Iraq, Afghanistan, on a ship somewhere in the middle of the ocean and everywhere else may have limited access to stores to get most of the basics (toothpaste, shampoo, etc). But that isn't all that care packages are for. They are to help improve morale and are a great way to thank us for our service.
Don't get me wrong, I volunteered 6 years ago(before 9/11) to serve our country and will continue to do it for nothing more than the paycheck that I get. In those 6 years I have spent close to a year in the States and the rest of it deployed all over the world.
Whenever I get a care package I always share the goodies with the guys I work with. Many of the programs out there that send the packages, will include letters of school children or members of their churches all giving thanks. I have cried a few times reading them because it just improves your mood so much I can't even describe it. A great organization that I know of is Helping Our Troops.com. They provide items that the soilders request.
Please give my thanks to your dad for serving.

Answer 2

I'm so sorry your dad feels that way. The military has changed SO much even in the last 10 years.
Unfortunately, the govt isn't providing the soldiers with all the comforts of home. If they are close to a PX, they can purchase items but they frequently sell out.

We have many friends deployed and while they're basic needs are taken care of but they need touches of home.

Soldiers are not needing toothpaste, shampoo, soap... but they do need other things from home- magazines, drink mixes, coffee, games, movies, food (top ramen, beef jerky, etc), soft toilet paper, baby wipes, condoms (helps to keep their rifle clean). Women need girly items- scented lotions, body wash, etc. Both love books, word puzzles, seek a word, sudoku, etc. There are so many things we take for granted and it means SO much to receive mail. Even a card makes the soldiers day.

Not all soldiers get to the chow hall and eat. Those in the field, on a mission, eat MRE's if they're lucky. Sometimes, they only eat 1 MRE a day because that space is better used by stuffing more ammo/supplies in their ruck.

Be careful who you donate to, but do donate! The USO provides phone cards to those deployed so they can call home and not worry about an enormous phone bill. Free phone calls are GREAT!

This site is from the DOD website.
http://www.americasupportsyou.com/americasupportsyou/index.aspx

Another legit place is at
[e-mail]
It's an email list and you can pick and choose what you donate.

Nicole, former Army wife

Answer 3

Your dad is pretty right about the toiletries, but don't let that dissuade you from contributing. I know my husband and the guys he works with have literally CASES of baby wipes. If you sign up to have boxes put together in your name or with your money, the people putting them together usually know what's needed. If you adopt a soldier and put the boxes together yourself, send snacks, trail mix, beef jerky (no pork products), candy (chocolate is okay now because it's cooler, but hard candy won't melt, and they DO hand it out to the kids), games, playing cards are pretty common, but they do wear out, stuff like that. SOME of the soldiers may not be fighting the type of war you imagine, but some of them are. The guys (and women) who never leave the bases, they have it easy, they get time for lunch (DFAC food isn't great, but they do get to eat), they have regular or semi-regular working hours, etc. But the men in the field, who go outside the wire to run missions, are working their butts off. The first time my husband was there, he lived off of candy bars, Slim Jims and energy drinks because he was never off work when the DFAC was open, and if he was, he was too tired to not fall asleep in his food. The soldiers are advised not to eat home-made goods (certainly not from strangers anyway), but packaged snacks and things are great for them.
And I also agree, a simple card or letter with a "good job" senitment does wonders. I see the impact of the negative publicity on the troops even when they're home, and it's not a good thing. Just knowing they have some support is great for them.
There might also be sites or places that collect donations for equipment. Sure, the gov't is dumping money into this war left and right, but that doesn't mean that everyone has everything they need. Some of the people my husband knows registered with a site to receive equipment donations, they tell them what they're short on, and the people in the group try to provide it for them. There's always stuff that soldiers need that the military doesn't fork over for free. Look into that as well.

Answer 4

War is just war. No matter how much money the government puts into it. The soldiers still need things to help distract them, toothpaste may not be the way to go, but magazines, books, CDs, DVDs are all greatly appreciated! I haven't served by my ex-fiance is a SSG, and just got back from Iraq 2 months ago. I know he, and all of his battle buddies, appreciated everything that was sent their way, even if it was an encouraging letter.
Decide what you think is best. I respect your father's view, but did he never get a care package while was on the front lines? I know my dad did, and he put in 22 years to the US Army.

Answer 5

Well with AAFES and the px, I can't see of many who would need donations of the items you've listed above. But they do appreciate anything they receive, be it candy or some recreational stuff, or phone cards so that they can call home. You shouldn't feel like you're being "sucked in" if you're donating a few bucks that going to go brightening a soldiers day.

Answer 6

You should only donate to registered organisations, at least then maybe the money will go to the proper people. I agree with your farther, however the U.K. guys an gals out there are short on a lot of basic equipment, but thats another story.
You should be very wary of sites like those, there's plenty of places to find out for real, ask your local recruitment office, they'll tell ya.

Answer 7

As a former troop I can tell you that what they like about receiving things is that it shows us that you care. Most people talk bad about the war and it starts to feel like you have no support. So its not really the need its the show of appreciation. Letters of support did more for me than toiletries. Maybe you should put some letters together and send them to the troops, I think that would help them more. Thank you for caring.

Answer 8

your dad is right about the basic stuff. but i still remember i received a box of beef jerky along with a letter from someone i didnt know during OIF I (2003) and that was pretty awesome. send things people enjoy like snacks, magazines, batteries for cd player, etc. if your worried about those 'organizations' ask around, im pretty sure there is someone that knows someone deployed that you can get an address. my mom gave my address to one of my former high school teacher! mail was one of the things i always looked forward to.

Answer 9

I know from personal experience that the guys over there like things, I sent my husbands unit candy for halloween and they loved it, I send him soap and shampoo and little games and such. They do need toothpaste and other things. Yes they are fed that doesn't mean they are bathed and cleaned too.

Answer 10

Honestly, he's right.

We have access to most of that stuff, here. If you do send things, though, I recommed AA batteries. They are hard to get and we use the daylights out of them from everything to MP3 players to cameras and flashlights.

Another thing that's good to send is trail mix. The best thing, though, is a card. After hearing the US bash our mission, here, it's good to hear from someone who thinks you're doing a good job.

EDIT:

I almost forgot! Something that is really cool to send would be bags of chocolate. The patrols put them in vehicles to give to the kids when they're outside the wire.