I want to send my son care packages when he gets to iraq but i have no idea what type of items to send. has anyone sent packages and if so what type of things do the guys and girls like to get? any info is appreciated
2007-03-09 11:13:37 · 18 answers · asked by donna r 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
My brother is also there.
He likes hygiene items and socks as neccessities.
He also likes little morale boosters like gum, candy, cookies, things to read, newspapers from home, pictures of loved ones, little games, water guns, etc.
Basically, anything small that makes his life a little more comfortable and can enable him to be a kid again during his downtime.
2007-03-09 11:19:12 · answer #1 · answered by Raising6Ducklings! 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I send my brother homemade goodies. Brownies ship very well-just double bag them in zipper sealed plastic bags and pack tightly in a box. Whatever your sons favorite snack item may be-especially homemade. Also ATT phone cards from Walmart. There are ATT call centers on all the bases for the service men to use but the PX rarely has any cards available to purchase. The best card to send is the 250 or 300 minute card as they are making international calls on them and only get about 90 minutes of actual calling time on a 300 min card. Anything sent in standard or greeting card envelope only requires a standard 39 cent stamp. Any packages require a custom form to be filled out at the post office.
2007-03-09 19:25:59 · answer #2 · answered by Country girl 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Like many have said already
1) calling cards
2) Hard candy (snickers bars and such might melt in the heat/go bad in transit)
3) Batteries
4) Girl Scout Cookies (honestly, can you think of a better food which will instantly remind people of home, and still convey love?)
5) DVD's (don't ask me why, I just saw it on a list of things people are collecting)
6) Magazines (or entertaining books; pretty much any sort of reading material which is entertaining or insightful. If you know your son's a fan of a particular magazine, like Popular Science or something, consider collecting the last couple issues and sending them as a bundle so he has more to read or ordering a subscription so you always have them handy)
7) Cards/letters of support from local schools if you can get them
8) Ziplock bags
9) Love (of course)
Good luck in gathering the stuff you need, you might even consider working with local schools/vfw groups to organize a town-wide drive for things to send so you can send them to other soldiers as well who might not have familes who can send them care packages.
God bless your son as well.
2007-03-09 19:34:02 · answer #3 · answered by Owen 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have a friend that is currently in Iraq and he sent out a care package list. Some of the things he requested are trail mixes, hair clippers, razors, white tube socks, 1.00 dollar bills (he stated no atm's there), white t-shirts, the persons favorite magazine,and just letters with pictures of loved ones if anything at all. When you send them through the mail have a list already with the items names, qtys, weights, and costs anything over 1lb shipping over seas needs this info for customs.
2007-03-09 19:36:57 · answer #4 · answered by your babies mama should know 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
God bless you and your son, you have a hard road ahead of you. My son is in Iraq now, 1st call the post office @ 1-800-610-8734 ask for a military kit they will send you boxes, tape, custom's forms and labels for free. I can tell you what I've sent my son, the first package I went all out boxes of baby wipes, Gatorade, and hygiene stuff. He told me to stop sending that stuff because they already have other organizations sending them boxes of it. Then I just started sending things he asked for. Stuff that reminds him of home,
fabreeze, socks, flashlights, batteries, my last box I sent him a mp3 player loaded with his favorite songs. It really depends on where he is going to be and what his commander will allow him to have. Your son will be able to tell what he needs. One more thing, the VFW will send your son a phone card I believe one every 6 mo.s http://www.operationuplink.org/. Oh I almost forgot my husband sends him a sports illustrated also. You'll find that what they don't need they share with others. One more thing it takes about 2 weeks for a package to get over there.
US Navy, US Army & Air Force personnel co-located with US Marines can send letters https://www.motomail.us/login.cfm?CFID=1859224&CFTOKEN=504b77ebb9961a77-396A67FC-B5A5-4C47-38D57C91CD708D90&jsessionid=b4307faab6941825376fyou type in the letter and they print it up in Iraq and deliver it usually in 24 hrs. that gives them something from home to hold on to.
Semper Fi and God be with you.
2007-03-09 20:17:34 · answer #5 · answered by Mother of a Marine 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
my son was in Iraq last year. I sent things like hard candies, chewing gum, pre-sweetened kool-aid, baby wipes, stationary,(no need to send stamps, they can mail letters for free), calling cards, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, lots of sunscreen and lip balm with sunscreen, among other things. The list is so long and it really depends on what they like and use. Good Luck to your son!
2007-03-09 19:22:23 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Anything you send is appreciated.
If you have fun making your care package then your soldier is surely going to enjoy it. I look forward to sending mine out. I am leaving a link with plenty of great ideas aside from my own. My boyfriend and his army buddies are in Iraq now. Every couple of weeks I send over things I know they like such as:
-Chips ( the kind that come in tubs/tubes so they don't crush) you can still send regular ones and they make it ok.
-Pudding cups
-Candy (not chocolate in the hot months)
-Koolaid, Crystal Light or Propel quick packs that you add to a bottle of water
-Homemade cookies.(Freeze them before sending then put a piece of bread in a zip lock bag with them then in another container)
-Pictures of family, friends, his house, his car, pets anything to make him smile and think of home. (talking frames are fun too)
- I always send a plastic toy spider because I know he doesn't like them but it always makes him laugh and gets a kick out of it.
-home made videos just like the pictures
-MAGAZINES and movies and tv shows. There are NEVER enough of those.
-Air fresheners the ones you can just sit around somewhere.
-Body wash instead of bars of soap
-BABY WIPES those will make up for showers sometimes.
-Seasonal things, I decorated a mini Christmas tree and sent over a bunch of fun St. Pattys day stuff. Usually the dollar store has alot of fun things.
2007-03-09 19:53:52 · answer #7 · answered by TT 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Any non perishable foods that he likes. Stuff like jerky, candy, nuts, ect. He will also like ant type of magazines that can keep him up to date with "the world". Like Maxim, Newsweek, sports illustrated, or anything related to his hobbies. Pretty Much anything that helps him feel more at home.
2007-03-09 19:24:05 · answer #8 · answered by tom p 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
everything that is nonperishable.
cards
dvd's
instant coffee (they have the ones that are like tea bags)
gatorade mix
kool aid mix
twizzlers
gummy bears, worms, etc.
microwave food (if he's around one)
just no chocolate!!!
tuna kits
cd's
shaving cream
razors
gum
toothpaste
toothbrushes
when he packs for iraq he can pack
micorwave
tv
dvd player
radio
2007-03-13 05:39:15 · answer #9 · answered by kdcobbler 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Phone cards. Cookies. Letters.
2007-03-09 19:25:15 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋