Archive through January 15, 2003
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TV ClubHouse: Archives: 2003 March: Care Packages for Our Soldiers and Sailors: Archive through January 15, 2003

Goddessatlaw

Wednesday, January 15, 2003 - 05:09 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Hi, guys. Many of us have friends and relatives who are headed overseas to some pretty unfriendly landscapes in defense of our country. From what I understand, our soldiers and sailors thrive on and take great comfort in receiving packages that bring them a little bit of home. Particularly, they seem to enjoy receiving letters from children - a reminder of why their work is so important. I started a list of care package items to send to my brother once he's settled in, and thought maybe we could brainstorm on care package suggestions for everyone here in need of ideas (including me). I am profoundly uncreative, so forgive me for just listing some items I've heard would be appreciated.

Hot sauce (to break up the MRE monotony)
Snacks (boxed crackers, packaged summer sausage, etc.)
Cookies (a big hit, Girl Scout Cookie season is here)
Good coffee (instant or if you want to get more elaborate, send a battery-powered personal coffee maker with some good coffee - make sure it's already ground)
CD player & CD's (or cassette player with tapes - be sure to send batteries - these really get passed around and are appreciated)
Letters from school children
Books
Local, funny and/or non-war related news items
Soap (civilian body and laundry soap are real luxuries for them)
Cigars (if you send good ones, they make little one-cigar humidors that cost almost nothing and will keep them fresh)
Newsy letters from family and friends (sometimes I'll ask around for quotes from family and friends to put in my own letters if they're not among those who write themselves. Remember not to send BAD or gripey news - they need to focus on the job at hand and not on things back home they can't fix)
Pictures of family and friends (they make little 2-fold wallets you can put about 12 pictures in that take up little room in a soldier's pocket)

Ummm - that's all I have so far. I'm hoping our creative minds on the Board can help give us all some unique ideas of little luxuries that might be appreciated by our servicepeople overseas. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Teatime

Wednesday, January 15, 2003 - 05:46 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Thanks for the list, Goddess. Our church sends care packages to military people and I knew we had much room for improvement in what we were sending. I'm printing off the list and it will be a tremendous help. (((military personnel & their families)))

If someone wanted to send packages on their own, do you know how they would go about getting a name and address? Isn't there one of those "To Any U.S. Soldier" addresses? (Our packages from church go to submitted names so far)

Cheri

Wednesday, January 15, 2003 - 05:48 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Wow Goddess, these are great ideas and I'll do some brainstorming. I've heard nothing one way or the other from my son yet but I am expecting him to be deployed, because of the job he has. It will keep him on the outskirts of the action but still too close for my own comfort.

You've given me some good ideas, thank you for that. The only thing I can add right now is funny cards, good jokes, make 'em laugh. Also, my son's overseas and he loves descriptions of mundane home life. My husband is retired from the Air Force and I know from him and my son that they love good war jokes.

I'll keep thinking.

Halfunit

Wednesday, January 15, 2003 - 05:49 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Prepaid postcards? (Do they even write anymore, or is it all e-mail, lol.)

Jagger

Wednesday, January 15, 2003 - 05:56 am EditMoveDeleteIP
How about writing paper and pens or pencils so they can write back.

Or a journal so they can put in words what they feel while they are there.

I agree any kind of family gossip or town gossip is great, when my brother was in the service years ago that is the stuff he wanted most.

Halfunit

Wednesday, January 15, 2003 - 06:03 am EditMoveDeleteIP
OK, I cheated...

Here is an address and list of ideas from Desert Storm: CLICK

Squaredsc

Wednesday, January 15, 2003 - 06:14 am EditMoveDeleteIP
great idea gal. 1/2 great site, who knew you could use pantyhose for that. i think i will get my ds' to make some pics and send them to any soldier. gal, if you think your brother would like a dragon ball z pic, email me and i will send it along when he gets settled. or anyone else who has loved ones over seas. my email is in my profile.

Teatime

Wednesday, January 15, 2003 - 06:15 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Thank you, Half. I remember the Desert Storm troops on TV appreciating the salsa and Tobasco sauce, and sounds like it's an ongoing request. I'd miss it, too.

Would the same address apply right now?

Halfunit

Wednesday, January 15, 2003 - 06:22 am EditMoveDeleteIP
TT - ya got me! I don't know... there were also pages that said Dear Abby's Any Soldier program was suspended after 9/11.

Maybe GAL can ask her brother? Or maybe a phone call to a recruiter's office?

Ed - GAL, did you spa yet?

Teatime

Wednesday, January 15, 2003 - 07:04 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Half, you're right. I'm finding out the same thing, that I'd need a specific name and address to send to. Recruiter's office will be a good place for me to start.

Ideas list:

Hacky sack
Frisbee
Socks and foot powder
Gel insoles

Halfunit

Wednesday, January 15, 2003 - 07:15 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Or we can ship everything to GAL's brother, and he can pass them around!!!

Babyruth

Wednesday, January 15, 2003 - 07:20 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Perhaps Rogue could be of help here, with some addresses and ideas, too. :)

Teatime

Wednesday, January 15, 2003 - 07:21 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Love it!

Pamy

Wednesday, January 15, 2003 - 07:43 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Please note due to high security ships will not accept packages unless they are addressed to a specific person on the ship.
We did care packages for my DH ship last year when he was deployed and the guys were so grateful!! We are sending care packages to the COnstallation this year because one of the girls here has her fiance on that ship.
The guys love snacks!! junk food snacks! Go to Costco and get the big size containers of it.
They usually can get all the cards/paper/mags that they need on board the ship.

Goddessatlaw

Wednesday, January 15, 2003 - 08:05 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Hi, guys - it's my understanding also that packages are required to be shipped to specific personnel largely due to the anthrax stuff last year. Great ideas you guys are coming up with. I'll have a look around this evening to see what programs might be available to get packages cleared for general soldier mailing. My brother took a six-man team with him from his unit, and is in command of alot of troops over there (he is a major), so it may be possible to send to him for general distribution - I don't know. I expect to hear from him by email in two weeks, so I'll ask more specific questions then (I won't even have his military p.o. til then). Thanks for all your input!!

Heyltslori

Wednesday, January 15, 2003 - 08:33 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I was thinking maybe sunscreen, and eye drops might be a good idea. Maybe small first aid kits, tweezers, nail clippers...stuff like that.

Karuuna

Wednesday, January 15, 2003 - 08:59 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I'm fairly sure you would need to use a group that does this regularly (like Teatime's church), if you don't have a specific name.

Even when you have a specific name, the track record for sending packages to APO/FPO addresses is extremely poor since 9/11.

Hate to be a party-pooper, cause I think this is a great idea, just don't want your efforts and nice stuff to go to waste. But I have a small business that gets quite a few orders from APO/FPO addresses. Even tho we are sending to a specific individual about 1/3 to 1/2 of those orders never make it. We send them again at our cost.

We had to seriously consider suspending sales to these addresses, but decided to continue anyway, even tho by the time we send the product out the 2nd or 3rd time, we're doing it at a financial loss. We don't think our customers ought to be penalized for the added security measures, or poor service (whichever it is); so we just decided to continue absorbing the losses.

Perhaps those of you who are good internet sleuths could try to find some groups that have organized efforts in this area. Your packages and caring would have a much better chance of making it to their destinations. :)

Goddessatlaw

Wednesday, January 15, 2003 - 09:08 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Good comments, Karuuna. And thanks for being so kind to military personnel at your own expense. I'm sure it means alot to them - it does to me. For those of you who do have specific names, it may help to set up a schedule with other family and friends who are mailing so that the soldier/sailor receives a somewhat regular rotation of care packages. Also organize who will send what when of the larger items, like cd player, so that there aren't unnecessary duplicates and others can begin sending cds thereafter. Ummm . . . still thinking.

Jkm

Wednesday, January 15, 2003 - 09:19 am EditMoveDeleteIP
My daughter's scout troop wants to try to get people to buy an extra box of cookies - so the girls can send them to the troops -- but honestly we're not ever sure how to get started.....

The higher ups in our region are of no help...

Where to send them to - who to contact
Find someone to ship them there at no cost to us
etc, etc, etc......

Pamy

Wednesday, January 15, 2003 - 09:24 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I can get you a contact person on the Constellation, they left in Nov and are not due back until June. That ship has over 5000 sailors on it. Let me know

Heyltslori

Wednesday, January 15, 2003 - 09:31 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I'd appreciate that Pamy!

Goddessatlaw

Wednesday, January 15, 2003 - 09:31 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I know a couple of tomcat pilots on the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln, which I think is also out to sea right now. I'll send them an email and see if there's a way to distribute through them.

Rogue

Wednesday, January 15, 2003 - 11:25 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Babyruth, I'm glad you asked.

Everyone, the best thing you can do right now is contact a local base's public affairs office. With everything going on in the world right now, I remember reading a few months back that they might stop (or have already) allowing packages or letters being addressed to "Any soldier, airman, sailor, grunt, etc,". Dont' quote me, but w/all the stuff going on in the post office's and for national security's sake, they are screening alot of stuff and it's coming under scrutiny.

Definitely, contact the public affair's offices on any base and I'm sure they will be able to assist. The Army, No One Comes Close Air Force, Navy and Marines personnel I know would greatly appreciate hearing from you and showing your support for our troops.

Now if you know somebody specific, by all means, write them, maybe they'll give you some names and addresses of folks whose family is very far away and would like to hear from somebody. This happens alot in the military boards for moms, dads, spouses, siblings, children, etc. It's especially great for those who are in basic training and all of a sudden get a birthday card from someone who obviously knows them, but they don't know the person who sent it. Get the picture?

On another note, don't be afraid to walk up to someone in uniform if you see them. I was eating breakfast this morning w/a friend and a guy and his family walked right over to me, put a hand on my shoulder (which startled me, you don't do that in Detroit) and said to me, "Thank you for my familys' peace. We appreciate what you do." I started crying, I've never had anyone just do that before. Just a thought... :) It meant alot to me.

Gail

Wednesday, January 15, 2003 - 12:06 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
In my office we have been sending a lot of care boxes and things since about October 2001. I have some really good friends who went to Kuwait and more that are going.

As it gets closer to summer, be mindful of the temps there - it gets to be around 120 in the shade.

Some of the things I sent the past year were those "Cooldanas" the bandanas with the gel packs in them that you soak in water and they help keep you cool. Also, I made alot of soap and chapstick that were big hits. Butter cookies are a hit. One of my friends that was there said paperback books are good - old and new.

A really great idea is to go to Sam's and get prepaid phone cards. We sent a lot of those at Christmas time. Get the ones that are good for 30 minutes or 60 minutes cards if they are going to groups of guys. They have the ability to get connected to the states via autovon or DSN but lets say their home is in rural area not close to an AF base (I am talking mom and dad or friends) - the phone card will let them talk to family and friends that are not close to a base.

Our last request was for things like mixed nuts, snacks, snicker bars, magazines (can not be anything remotely risque at all). Rice Krispie treats are a big hit too. Another fun thing would be jigsaw puzzles too.

One thing to keep in mind - I have been lucky enough where I work for our packages to go through US Mail channels and sometimes official channels - the quickest I have seen a package go through is 3 weeks. As far as I know - the box we sent in early december still has not gotten to Kuwait. It will eventually but it takes a long time. So before you send a boxfull of warm from the oven brownies - keep in mind - it could take a month to arrive.

All my friends that went over said there is not a lot to do when they are not working except to work out.

Teatime

Wednesday, January 15, 2003 - 12:12 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Lots of good advice here. Keep it coming. The first and second-hand knowledge is very helpful.