Most of these came from listening to the radio program "Ryan & Gretchen" in the morning on Q108 (107.9 FM in Nashville). I've never tuned into this station before, but after hearing them compile this growing list of items "live" on the air -- with listeners calling in and adding their own -- I was impressed by their creativity and "positive news" approach on the radio.
I may just have to give up my Bob & Tom station temporarily while I check out these guys on my way to work the rest of this week. Can't wait to see if this is the way most of their shows go.
Interesting...
One of the coolest things to me was the fact that Gretchen & Ryan had someone who had served TDY in the U.S. military on the show providing feedback about:
the types of items that American soldiers need most
which items are the easiest for male and female soldiers to utilize
items that might SOUND like a great idea, but for one reason or another are not wise to send to soldiers
...it was great to hear the point-of-view from someone who's been there, done that.
Since the list currently appears on Gretchen & Ryan's MAIN page, and I'm afraid they'll take it down soon, I've included all of the items from their list... plus a few of my own:
The Best Items To Include In Military Care Packages:
Deodorant
Shower to Shower body powder
Jelly beans
Disposable camera
Rice Krispie treats
Altoids/mints
Beef jerky
Snack mixes
Sunflower seeds
Chewing gum
Nuts
Long-distance phone cards
Little Debbie's snacks
Ziploc bags
Coffee
Gatorade
Jaw breakers
Poker game
Playing cards
Dice
Music CD's
Footbag/hacky-sack
Toothbrushes & toothpaste
Inflatable pillow
Cookies in individual packages (Big bags often fill with dust if not eaten right away.)
Dominoes
Pasta and sauce
Canned food items
Spices, salt, pepper
Smoked oysters and sardines
Squeeze butter
Pringles chips
Individually-wrapped licorice
Microwave popcorn
Ramen noodles
Macaroni & cheese
Disposable shower towels
Olives, pickles, peppers (Be sure to add lots of bubble wrap around these items.)
Cereal bars/granola bars
Microwave pasta that doesn't need refrigeration
Hot cocoa mix
Soup mix
M&M's (plain or peanut)
DVD's
Koozies to keep water bottles and cans cool
Newspapers
Magazines
AA batteries
D batteries
Air fresheners (...like stick-ups, F'breeze.)
Canned air to blow dust out of electronics
Stress relief squeeze balls
Sewing kit
Lysol wipes/hand & face wipes
Poker chips
Board games
Shoe laces for gym shoes and boots
Brown t-shirts
Boot socks
Underwear
Hand warmers
Inflatable seat cushions
Razors
Ink pens
Word Puzzle books
Icy/hot patches
Air activated heat wraps for sore muscles
Foot massager
Microwaveable plates, bowls, paper plates
Foot powder
Vitamins
Paperback books
Combo Items That Make Great Gifts For U.S. Soldiers
-
Super Snack Attack -- a big combo pack of salty and sweet treats - Skin Deep -- skin care products & cookies... just what tired soldiers need after hours of being in the field
- Cookies Direct: Operation Treats For Troops - they've been sending cookies to the troops since the war started and, since 2005, they've included a free dozen in every package going to an APO/FPO address.
More great ideas for gift baskets for soldiers care packages.
Tips for sending packages to U.S. military overseas.
Fun new gift ideas for soldiers and their families.
Thanks That Cost Less for military care packages.
UPDATE 11/17/07:
See what we sent to a couple of military units in Iraq -- last year and this year.
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We started CARE PACKAGES FROM HOME 4 years ago when my friends brother was in Afghanistan and he would repeated tell us how NOT supplied they were and how lonely they were, wanting to hear from home. When he came home I spoke to my Mom and saidh "We could do this for others too!!" We went to our community and asked for their help. We have grown from there. We live in a tiny rural town in upstate NY. If anyone from anywhere would like to help you can have a fund raiser (Car wash, bake sale, Auction, Penny Social etc) then send the money to us and specify if you want it used for postage or items for the packages. OR you could go to your community, groups (churches, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, 4H, etc) Schools and have Donation Drive (of items) and send them to us to ship to our over 30 Soldiers. Female Soliers are in MORE need then even the Men. They are in DESPERATE NEED of Femanine products of ALL kinds. We sned to both but always try to make people aware of the desperate need of the Women. So if you would like to become involved with our worthwhile project you can EMail me at lestin@wpe.com or go to our website www.countrycomputerconnection.com/carepackagesfromhome
You can make secure money donations from there in any amount. It does not take a LOT of money to help. Every $1 makes a difference!!
Thank for your help.
Sincerely;
Tina M. Burnham (607)829-5928
Beverly Soldan (607)829-8627
Lesley Beers (607)829-5928
Care Packages From Home
www.countrycomputerconnection.com/carepackagesfromhome
My son is currently in Iraq. After talking to him on the phone one day me and my middle daughter finally decided on what she wanted to do to earn her Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can earn. Everything must be done by the only the Scout.
She is setting up a campaign to deliver Care Packages to Soldiers in Iraq. My son said that there are boys over there that have not received any care packages. My daughter thought that was just wrong. She would like to help out by sending at least one package a week for the next year. My son said that he would hand out the packages as they are sent to him, since you need to send them to a particular person now and not any soilder anymore.
She is in the process of making a list of items that she would like people to donate.
I think this is something very special that a 14 year old child is willing to undertake and commit to for the next year.
She has also decided to follow in her brothers footsteps and plans to enlist.
If anyone reading this and would like to help with any type of donation, whether its food items or to help with the shipping cost, you can send us an email at kdavis@shentel.net please put "I would like to help Sam" in the subject line. no item or amount will be turned down.
Thank you for your time and thank you for this list of items it really helps.
Added note: I joined http://www.soldiersangels.org/, another great organization which connects people with soldiers to "adopt". Julia Silva, if you wish to send me a private email, my address is loribelledesigns@gmail.com.
Hi Julia,
I know your last post to this forum was in 11/07 and hope you are checking in since. I just wanted you to know that I have been Eleuterio's soldier's angel since January 08. I only want to say that I am honored to help in any way I can and would love to send him the best items I can afford. I've asked him for feedback so I can send what he wants/needs, but I've been working in the "dark" and hoping my monthly care packages are hitting the mark. If there's anything you can share with me to help me send the most appropriate things, I'd be grateful. I made/shipped cool neck ties, many snacks, grooming aids, games, puzzle books, etc. But can you help me by giving me his favorite hobbies (puzzles, crosswords, soduku, word search, drawing, etc.), snacks (flavors, type, etc), grooming aids (hair gel, shampoos, body wash, deoderant, dental aids, powders, anything else?!) Does he like to read? If so, what kind of books? Magazines?
Thanks for the info! I'm trying to come up with some new ideas for care packages and this list helped a lot!
If anyone is interested in sending a care packages but doesn't have a soldier, PLEASE adopt one! Visit http://www.adoptaussoldier.org. Our soldiers love to get letters, even e-mail, from home. If you've only got a few items you'd like to share, you can contact me at tx_green_mnm at yahoo dot com and I'll put them into my next package. I adopted a soldier who is on the front lines in Iraq at the Iran border. It's been a wonderful experience for me and my family!
I see a lot of wonderfull comments from people wondering how they can support our Service Members down range. I currently work at the Medical Transient Detachment in Landstuhl Germany where our Service Members that are wounded go when they have been Medevaced to Germany and are either waiting to go back to war or to Walter Reed in DC for more help. We have many programs for these Service Members.
Operation "On My Way Home" -
We supply quart size zip top baggies filled with personal care items 3oz. or less for our Wounded Warriors to take with them on the Flight to thier next destination. Items are extremely limited here in Germany exspecially because of the exchange rate. It's one less thing the Wounded Warriors have to worry about as they complete thier mission "to get well".
Operation Feed Our Heros-
We supply microwavalbe meals and snacks to the Wounded Warriors. The flight come in at all hours of the day. Most Wounded Warriors show up with nothing but the clothes on thier backs. No money and all food places are closed at some of the crazy hours they come in. We like to ensure there is food for them when they get her after that 8 hour Medevac flight.
Operation Dirty Laundry-
We supply laundry bags with the individual size powder laundry detergents, travel size dryer sheets, bleach tabs, pen stain removers. We supply the Wounded Warriors with sweatpants, sweatshirts, t-shirts, under garmets, socks but they still need them washed.
All of this is done through Mission: Support Warriors.
Mission: Support Warriors main goal is to support the deployed Service Members serving in Iraq and Afganistahn. We currently have 734 Service Members deployed and are always looking for caring American that would like to adopt a Service Member or help with donations for the care packages we send them.
If anyone would like to help with our Operations and or Adopt or support our Service Members you can contact Barbara Pepple the Founder of Mission Support Warriors at barbara.pepple@us.army.mil
Just Thought I would Through this all out there.
Thanks