AMERICAN TROOPS in IRAQ?

Question

I'd like to send care packages. Does anyone know what to send and where to send it?

Answer 1

Snacks, Foods, and Treats

Individually wrapped hard candy ( Twizzlers, Tootsie Rolls, Tootsie Pops, Skittles, lollipops, Life Savers, Sweet Tarts, etc), chewing and bubble gum, mints, breath strips (no chocolate or home made items)

Small packages (lunch box sized) of nuts, seeds, pretzels, cookies, chips (Pringle type containers best), Cracker Jacks, crackers, Corn Nuts, fruit snacks and fruit leather, Gardettos

Trail Mix, energy bars, protein bars, breakfast and granola bars, nut bars, instant oatmeal, Kraft Easy Mac, ramen, Cup a Noodles

Powdered, sweetened drink mixes (Gatorade, Crystal Light, Kool-Aid), ground or instant coffee, tea bags, hot chocolate, cider mix, sugar, sweetener, Coffee Mate, and condiment packets

Canned meats (NO PORK!), stews, chili, ravioli, soups, fruit, beef jerky, non-refrigerated microwavable meals

Personal, Hygiene and Toiletries

Hotel/travel sized gel deodorant, shampoo, lotion, toothpaste and mouthwash, toothbrushes, dental floss and Brush Ups

Disposable Razors, Eye drops, Nose Drops, Unscented Baby Wipes, Wet wipes, Small Hand Sanitizer, Mach III Turbo Razor Blades

Small Kleenex Packets, Q-Tips (Large packages are fine), Anti-Fungal Creams, Band Aids, Foot Powder, Sunscreen

DVDs, AAA and AA batteries, pens, pencils, blank greeting cards and stationary, stickers, disposable cameras, AT&T phone cards

Gallon, Quart, Sandwich, and Snack Sized Ziploc Bags (to make care packages)

Hand written cards and letters of encouragement for our troops

I would go to this website maybe it will help with an address! Good luck! And God Bless

http://www.anysoldier.com/

Also you might find help at a Recruiting Office, they may be able to give you some info

Answer 2

You can contribute to the USO. There are links for international phone cards, cash donations and a program where they gather funds specifically for care packages and get stuff purchased directly from manufacturers, which are in turn drop-shipped to troops not only in Iraq but in other war zones around the world.

https://www.uso.org/howtohelp/makeadonation/sendagift/

Answer 3

DoD officials ask citizens not to flood the military mail system with letters, cards, and gifts. Due to security concerns and transportation constraints, the Defense Department can't accept items mailed to "Any Servicemember”. However, there are numerous other ways in which you can show your support for our troops. The following are websites for several organizations sponsoring programs for members of the Armed Forces overseas. While it would be inappropriate for DoD to endorse any specifically, Service members do value and appreciate such expressions of support:


Donate a calling card to help keep service members in touch with their families at Operation Uplink at http://www.operationuplink.org/

Send a greeting via e-mail through http://anyservicemember.org/ or http://www.OperationDearAbby.net

Sign a virtual thank you card at the Defense America web site at http://www.defendamerica.mil/nmam.html

Make a donation to one of the military relief societies:

Army Emergency Relief at http://www.aerhq.org/
Navy/Marine Relief Society at http://www.nmcrs.org/
Air Force Aid Society at http://www.afas.org/
Coast Guard Mutual Assistance at http://www.cgmahq.org/

Donate to "Operation USO Care Package" at http://www.usometrodc.org/care.html

Support the American Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Services at http://www.redcross.org/services/afes/

Volunteer at a VA Hospital http://www.va.gov/vetsday/ to honor veterans who bore the lamp of freedom in past conflicts.

Support families whose loved ones are being treated at military and VA hospitals through a donation to the Fisher House at http://www.fisherhouse.org.

Support your troops and lift their spirits by sending them a special "Gifts From the Homefront" certificate at http://www.aafes.com/docs/homefront.htm

This link (http://www.army.mil/operations/iraq/faq.... also states that use of such sites as you were asking about is discouraged:

"There are many well meaning Web sites, TV stations, and charity groups that are promoting donations to overseas Servicemembers. While well intentioned, you should not use them and you should discourage others from using them. These unsolicited letters of support or care packages to Servicemembers raise a force protection issue, since anonymous donors are different from legitimate family members and friends. DoD has cancelled mail programs which encouraged the American public in general to mail to Any Servicemember (versus a specific deployed person). These new programs attempt to do the same thing by gathering names of Servicemembers to send mail. While legitimate mail from family members and loved ones is always encouraged, these donor programs, which collect and pass out Servicemembers’ names and addresses, is discouraged."