Packages to send to our Troops

Sandy Crump July 14, 2008

Remember in the past the care packages we put together to send to our troops when they were at war? We are still doing that, but just not for the soldiers that we personally know. I have sent two soldiers boxes in the past year and it is so gratifying to assemble the items in these boxes. The care boxes are so appreciated by our troops. I received a thank-you email as well! Here are some tips to get you started.

I pick up items at the dollar store, wal-mart, drugstores, garage sales, flea markets, and use freebie sites such as: http://www.freestufftimes.com/ to collect items throughout the year.

At this site you can click on the “Where to Send” tab and you will see emails including photos from the soldiers on how things are going and the items that they can use. http://www.anysoldier.com/ I usually pick the soldiers that need the items that I already have on hand ... and pick one that has not had a lot of requests for their address. The "anysoldier.com" site will send the names and address of two soldiers per day.

Do not take the original packaging off any food items sent overseas. The soldiers are told not to eat anything homemade or not in commercial packaging. This is for their safety.

The Post Office will send/deliver to you several sizes of boxes and tape. Call 1-800-610-8734, press number 1, press number 1, a live agent will come on and you tell them you would like CAREKIT04. They give you a customer number so that you can use it in the future as well. These boxes are sent with the flat rate. You can also put your items in a box of your choice.

* Indicates items in high demand

Stationery Paper Playing Cards Board Games Hand held games* Puzzles Crayons Coloring Books Magazines Clothing Items Socks White* Socks Black* Hand Warmers Skull Caps	Snacks Microwave Popcorn* (butter and kettle korn) Chips (in plastic containers, like pringles) fritos Peanuts Sunflower Seeds Slim Jims* Beef Jerky* Salsa (Hot) Salsa (Medium) Salsa (Mild)	Toiletries Razor Razor Blades Shaving Cream Deodorant Bar Soap Shampoo Hand Sanitizers Hand Lotion Chapstick* Sunscreen* Foot Powder Baby Powder Feminine Products Bug Repellent*
Meals Cup-A-Soup (no pork) Microwave Meals* beanie weenies poptarts	Candy M & M’s (plain) M & M’s (peanut)* Hard Candy Gum	Breakfast Foods Cereal Granola bars - chewy & crunchy Flavored Oatmeal Packets
Sandwich Spreads Peanut Butter Plain (in plastic container) Peanut Butter Crunch Jelly (strawberry and grape (squeezeable Condiments Mustard Tobasco Sauce Taco Bell sauces (in the packets	Crackers Peanut Butter Crackers Cheese Crackers Ritz Crackers Tuna/Crackers Chicken Salad/Crackers Velveeta Cheese* Ritz crackers* Fruit Pies (small) Blueberry Apple Cherry Lemon Eclair	Baked Goods Fudge (store bought)Rice Krispy Treats Brownies Plain (w/nuts) (w/o nuts) Pudding (chocolate) Other Flavors Doughnuts Cookies* Store Cookies Oreos* Oatmeal w/raisins w/nuts w/nuts/Raisins Choc. Chip w/nuts w/o nuts
Drinks Kool-Aid (in stick packs)* Juice Pops Powdered Drinks Tea Coffee (regular) Coffee (decaf) Cider Drinks Cocoa	Sports Equipment Footballs Baseballs Soccer Balls Basketball Table Tennis equipment	Miscellaneous Music CDs DVD movies PS2 games gameboys D Batteries AA Batteries* AAA Batteries*