Soldiers, male or female, what would you think of getting this treat bag while you are deployed:?

Question

So, I sort of adopted my husbands platoon and decided that each month I will send some treat to each of his soldiers and it also keeps me busy. I get to have fun with it but then I dont want to go overboard or make it to childish, I do have a 4 yr old!

For July I made Oatmeal with butterscotch chips cookies and wrapped each cookie individually in non stick foil. Then I found individually wrapped gumballs in red, white, and blue colors and also a small tin of mints that the tin is in the shape of a heart however the tin is wrapped in plastic. So, that is all of what I am placing inside individual gift bags which are celophane of different colors. There are yellow bags, clear with different colored stars, and purple bag with polka dots on them. Each bag I also print out a label for and use a star shaped hole punch and use a colored twist tie to close each bag up with a label on each bag of treats.

So in your honest opinion, would you like this as a treat or am I going overboard??

These poor guys and a few gals , most of them are single and dont get much mail. So I felt bad about that especially when i was already mailing my husband a bunch of letters and he was getting the most mail. (He is my best friend!) So that is where I got my inspiration from. Let them know there are others thinking about them and trying to make them happy to for a bit anyways.

Thanks for the link, I will check it out. I need new ideas easter was candy inside eggs, choc.chip cookies, brownies, blueberry muffins, and now this month.

Though...its funny I think...I am a liberal and always has been but have been in the service six years but when I got pregnant (unexpectedly) my husband and I knew I could not hand our baby over to someone else to raise, so even though I was not ready to leave the service, I had to do it for my baby. Crazy coming from a liberal huh?

no not positive reinforcement, constructive ciriticism is what i would like honestly.
So far I have come to the conclusion that it may be a bit frilly but I guess it could be worse? Though i did check out the link the from the answer I have got so far and it is a good link and has lots of fun ideas too, I just dont want to spend a ton of money, thats why I make the cookies myself.

Answer 1

If I was a liberal I'd respond by saying 'If you support the troops so much why don't you sign up?'

Since I'm not a liberal, I will say that you are doing a wonderful thing and I'm sure they will be very thankful.

I will also leave you with a link to 'A Soldiers Wish List' that has a list of items that are desired and might give you some ideas in the future.

Answer 2

Liberal or not, what you're doing is fantastic! All politics aside, anything you do like this will bring a smile to a young troop's face and heart!
Going overboard? Only you can answer that one, but from a 27 year vet, you aren't going overboard! I've seen it too many times, a troop that gets very little mail, yet alone a "goodie" box, and it breaks my heart for them. Whenever I'm deployed and get a "care package" from home, I share it with the guys, starting with the poor guy that has little or no family back home.
I live near a large military base, and each Christmas Eve if I'm home, I make a box stuffed with candy, chips, ham sandwiches, crackers, fruit, soda and take to the guys standing duty at the back gates that are out in the middle of nowhere. Can you imagine, in the middle of nowhere, late at night, NO traffic coming or going, and a long time before they get off shift. You should see the shocked looks on their faces....someone else actually gives a damn about them and they are so happy that someone remembered them.
Keep it up, I think what you're doing is great!

Answer 3

One other idea... we discovered that when you use a small scoop for making cookies that they come out the perfect size for a pringles chip can. Cookies didn't get destroyed quite as much, and what did end up in crumbs was all contained and the guys ate them anyway!!

Get the other wives and kids in the platoon involved as well... make it a monthly event where you all get together and work on the goodie boxes. We do that when the guys from our squadron deploy. It also get the spouses out of the house and meeting other folks in the same boat!

The kids love decorating and coloring bags and cards for the guys, and the guys loved them! Also, you would be amazed at what you might get once you get the word out there that you are sending a box for ALL!

Oh, try sending some silly stuff.... one box the guys got the rubberband airplanes, another month it was super balls. Oriental trading has some great stuff.

Thanks for taking care of the troops!! We have another deployment coming soon, and I'll be doing the same thing!

Answer 4

Well, I wasn't going to respond since I'm a military wife, not an active member of the military.... But after that guys post I changed my mind. While I agree with some of what he said, It had nothing to do with your question.

I sent stuff to my husband and some of his friends both times they were deployed and they all really liked it. I'm sure you are brightening the day of a lot of the troops (wherever they are) Especially the poor guys, and girls, who don't have awesome spouses like us at home. I hope your hubby has a safe and speedy return. I know what you're going through cuz I went through it too. I don't think you are going overboard, I bet they love it.


Edit: The post I was talking about is gone now. lol

Answer 5

I don't think you're going overboard at all. I send a huge package of goodies to my boyfriend every WEEK that he shares with his buddies in the squadron. I think it's awesome that you're looking out for those guys and gals who don't have a lot of support coming from home.

I try to send packages with a different theme every time. I've done one from the dog with scooby snacks and episodes of Emergency Vets on DVD. I sent the makings for burritos for Cinco de Mayo. This week's package was all about baseball with sports magazines, big league chewing gum and cracker jacks! I've got a Disney package planned next.

I know what you mean about it keeping you busy. It makes me feel like I'm doing my part.

Keep up the good work supporting our troops! Hope they liked the 4th of July cookies.

Answer 6

of course it's a good idea...r u looking for positive reinforcement? it is a little frilly, but hey...it's sugary food=good food. there are several operations set up to send over gifts (like the link a poster above gave). since this is coming from the wife from someone they know, i'm sure they will really appreciate it and could use the sweets.

Answer 7

I think it all sounds excellent! You've actually given me some ideas as to what to send out for my husbands platoon. I've gone to the dollar store and gotten a whole ton of fun little games, water balloons, and some brightly colored little squirt guns. He LOVES them. They have water fights now all the time and they all ganged up on their ssgt today :)

Answer 8

Regardless of politics, soldiers are human beings, they are away from home, and they are put though things no human being should ever have to experience. What you're doing is a great service to them in no small way. You're letting them know that they are being thought of, which is something that won't be lost on them. I don't see that as going overboard.

For the record, I am not a soldier myself. But, I do know several veterans who served during various wars and conflicts, and I know from what they tell me that getting something like that from home was always a welcome thing, and it usually brightened their day.

Answer 9

I saw a site that offers great tiems for a very reasonable price -- with free shipping and the option to send the item in a care package

the site was @ http://ccbp.vze.com

Stop and take a look see

Answer 10

Dont worry about going overboard. Your a great wife and a good person. Keep sending things. Im sure they really appreciate it!