My college is having a drive to collect supplies to send to the soldiers over in Iraq. They gave us a list of items that they needs, but I thought I would try to send things that they receive less often in donations and therefore may need more. Maybe some of you have close family or friends in Iraq and know what things they are always short of or need more than others?
Also, it specifies no brand names for sunglasses, and no gum in stick form - why would that be? Just curious.
2007-03-20 15:04:29 · 10 answers · asked by Grace1228 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
~q-tips
~powdered gatorade/drink mix ( individual and regular)
~cold brew tea bags ( you can stick these in a camelback)
~wet wipes (for obvious uses as well as bathing when there's no water available)
~deo/anti-perspirant (unscented is best)
~ip balm/chapstick
~sunscreen
~hand sanitizer
~phone cards
~a deck of cards
~feminine products (for the ladies - often overlooked again unscented --- like it or not scented products can give you away to the enemy if you are in a serious situation.)
~eye drops (Visine type)
~Laundry detergent (packets of powder or tablets ship the best)
~Cookies ( homemade if you can -- but not chocolate chip they will melt! If you use popcorn to pack them they will stay ok - also undercook them just a bit. The popcorn will get eaten too even if it's stale!)
~Candy (hard as most soft will melt unless you ship between Oct and Feb --- they often hand this out to kids)
~Gum
~Sunflower Seeds/snack items
~Disposable razors/razor blades
~CD's
~ Coffee ( the good stuff like Starbucks -- there are regs on this though so check before you send it. Hubby liked the individual serving tubes)
Some have great PX's and some don't so anything that would be a touch of home!
You can NOT send pornography (girlie mags), anything with pork in it, drugs, alcohol, aeresol cans (they can burst) or liquids!
Also No anti-war pamphlets, etc.
Hope that helps!
2007-03-20 17:56:59 · answer #1 · answered by ArmyWifey 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I always asked for granola bars and beef jerky - it was portable on patrols. I read tons of books - they get passed around a lot. Eye drops are good too.
Also homemade cookies. So good. If you take and place a few between slices of bread in a Ziploc they stay pretty fresh. This may not work if they are nto goign to be sent ASAP. My wife would put them in the USPS flat rate express boxes.
A really good one is icee pops....those stick pops...those are so awsome...especially at 130 degrees :)
I also really likes the cream savers candies...easy to have a few in your pocket. Also the ready mix koolaid that comes in self serve packs or the bigger tubs of the sugarfree koolaid....drinking that much water its nice to have some flavor.
Hope that helps....thanks for your support
2007-03-20 15:15:51 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Soldiers are specifically asking for gum (Chiclets) powdered water additive ( flavor packs) and silly string, (generic brands work to)
they use silly string to find trip wires and are in short supply due to Congressional under funding.
Supporting letters would help, Leave politics out of them.
Magazines, sports illustrated/ snowgoer/ muscle car/ 4 weeler/car and driver/ etc. they like off road stuff and motor sports mostly.
2007-03-20 15:45:11 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Last year I sent a friend the most wonderful thing that they claimed to have gotten in awhile. It gets really cold in the desert at night and we sent them hot packs from Wal-Mart. You can buy them in the sporting goods or hunting supplies section of the store. They crack and shake them and they will stay warm sometimes for eight hours. They would put them inside their uniforms to keep warm at night, or in their socks in camp. The cold packs we sent work the same way - only in reverse. It's just something extra that is a little unique.
2007-03-20 15:22:02 · answer #4 · answered by Amy N 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Entertainment items, such as used DVDs and video games. Also, magazines and books. Snacks and toiletries are always needed. They can't have name brand glasses because they are not allowed to wear trendy items with their uniform. I am not sure about the stick gum though.
2007-03-20 15:19:22 · answer #5 · answered by suz' 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
gum in stick form melts togetehr and you can't get it out. The troopees need bug juice,,,wet wipes (yeah for that), Girly magazines//FHM, stuff, etc. DVD's (they can watch them when they return from the firled) and maybe like personal finance magazines (the officers like tehm to think about their financial future too). When you send the care package keep it like shoebox size. You can also mark it for "Any Marine in IRAQ" and it will get there.
2007-03-20 15:12:11 · answer #6 · answered by Steelhead 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Instant Drink Mixes ie Gatorade, Kool-Aid, Crystal Light,baby wipes,Socks colors-Black, Olive Green & White (cotton or wool),batteries ie AA,AAA,Pumpkin Seeds / Sunflower Seeds
2007-03-20 15:22:43 · answer #7 · answered by support our troops 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
we had a semi-drive at our school too
i talked to a navy corpsman and what he said sounds pretty legit
since they dont really get showers, ya might wanna send deoderant or antipirspirent
somthing else would be a letter those guys are workin their butts off the least you can do is send them a letter showing that you appreciate what they're doin
more info at anymarine.com
2007-03-20 15:10:23 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Do u know anyone in the millitary. If not get to calling your matine,army,navy,national Guarf and airforce offices in your area they might be able to help you. Sorry thats all i can help you with.
2016-03-29 09:42:30 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sunscreen, hard candies (won't melt as easily), decks of cards, baby wipes, paperback books and magazines.
2007-03-20 15:14:43 · answer #10 · answered by Stimpy 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋