[justfluffyme]

Before he left, I had found a BOGO $10 phone cards.

[gagesmommy]

I forget what all I sent. For the chips I got those ones in a little plastic container. That way they wouldn't get crushed and he could throw them in his bag. I also sent him popcorn, baby wipes, lotion, body wash, face wash all those toiletry items. Sending him tide packets and crystal light (thanks for the idea!).

[justfluffyme]

That is such a great idea! Could you also send them a little calandar so they can see the dates upcoming?

Originally Posted by bellasmama

Another idea, especially if you are sending to someone other than husband/wife/kid or when you are sending to people you don't know is to throw in some cards (b-day, v-day, ect as sometimes they don't get to the px's to be able to send them back to their loved ones. I know I have gotten more than a few thank you's on that acct.

[justfluffyme]

I love that idea! My BF has a son, a mother, sisters/brothers. I think even if you do know them, sending them cards for b-day, mothers day, Christmas (I think the Christmas cards would have to be a season's greeting type, I would religioun out of and off of the cards). I don't want any trouble with those Christmas Cards. If your loved one/friend/ is anniversary cards.

Originally Posted by bellasmama

Another idea, especially if you are sending to someone other than husband/wife/kid or when you are sending to people you don't know is to throw in some cards (b-day, v-day, ect as sometimes they don't get to the px's to be able to send them back to their loved ones. I know I have gotten more than a few thank you's on that acct.

[justfluffyme]

I am onl my mom's computer and getting VERY wierd smilies, sorry!

[nofancyname]

There are special flat rate boxes for IPO addresses...I forget the exact cost but I want to say its $11.95 for the flat rate box.

[Omar329]

I work for the second largest retailer in the US and my store is sponsoring the adopt a soldier program in the store and the amount of associates signed up make me very proud of my store!

[justfluffyme]

GREAT IDEA! Even thought these are solderies and warriors, most of them are still men. And don't think about those things. I'm going to send some little $.48 cards for walmart with birthdays for the sisters and brotheres. Mother's day for mom. And a little calendar for him to circle the dates. I already have smal hard plastic folder for stationary. I can just add those things to it.

Originally Posted by bellasmama

Another idea, especially if you are sending to someone other than husband/wife/kid or when you are sending to people you don't know is to throw in some cards (b-day, v-day, ect as sometimes they don't get to the px's to be able to send them back to their loved ones. I know I have gotten more than a few thank you's on that acct.

[granny of 7]

Originally Posted by pemerson

DH loved the drink mixes, dried fruit, any snack type food. I also splurged and bought him some Freeze Dried Ice Cream one time. He and his buddies loved it. He still asks for it to this day. Don't forget to send some multi-vitamins. You can also send some febreeze type stuff, and foot powder. That's all I can think of right now.

Edit: You can also send some toys. Just something cheap from the dollar store that he and his friends can goof off during down time and act like kids. Don't buy anything that he can't throw away. I know space can be limited and traveling back to the states with extras like that isn't always an option.

how did you send freeze dried icecream I think this will be a real treat for my sweetie

[mandarn]

Originally Posted by bargainshopper

Wow Jo Ann that goes above and beyond. 6-8 boxes you are awesome and I am sure that they felt like children on Christmas morning when they got them all! That is very sweet of you to do. I am still trying to get going on this. Can someone tell me how much it typically costs to send a box?

It is $10.95 for a flat rate box to any APO address

[granny of 7]

I love all these great ideas I send my sweetie about 4- 5 boxes a month it gets a little pricey with all the goodies I send in his last box I put a cozy little dog stuffed animal He loves it gave him a name and everything (Rover) and before he left in june I stuffed a pillow case with our picture on it he just got last week and was so suprised now with all these other great ideas he's really going to be happy

[mandarn]

I always do "theme" boxes. For his birthday, I decorated the inside of the box with birthday themed scrapbook paper and stickers and even blew up little balloons and taped to the underside of the lid. I sent a Betty Crocker Warm delights as his birthday cake along with birthday candles, party hats and noisemakers I sent a picture of me in a frame that is recordable and I sang Happy Birthday.

[justfluffyme]

Those are some great ideas, I hope to see you post regularlly, seeing as how you're a pro and all!

Originally Posted by JoAnnPA

I used to send my husband gum they go thru that like
crazy, crystal light,propel water all in the stick form, mints and any other hard candy I could find, ace combs, cheap flip flops, back scratchers, cards, any puzzle books, baby wipes the ones that reseal easily they dry out way too fast, soap, washcloth, hand towel, writing paper, pens, mechanical pencils, note cards, greeting cards.

don't forget the ladies too my husbands unit had 2 woman and I did special boxes just for them and they were so excited someone thought of them personally.

I used to send 6 to 8 priority boxes a week and my husband would get someone to help him bring them back and they put two huge tables together open the boxes take the stuff out and my husband would yell "wife mail is here"

I plan on doing this again for when my husbands old unit goes out again soon.

[justfluffyme]

Welcome Ella and her mommy. And thanks for the info on the flat rate boxes, I' know somewhere on this forum somene already posted a kit list will try to find it and post it within the "What are you sending" thread.

Originally Posted by mandarn

It is $10.95 for a flat rate box to any APO address

[justfluffyme]

opps

[schatz]

if I had known it was only 12$ i would have send one when I was in the states!!! will do so next summer! Can it be as heavy as you can get it??

[justfluffyme]

oops

[justfluffyme]

oops

[pemerson]

Originally Posted by schatz

if I had known it was only 12$ i would have send one when I was in the states!!! will do so next summer! Can it be as heavy as you can get it??

The flat rate boxes can be any weight up to, I think, 50 or 70 lbs. Either way that is enough weight to send just about anything.

[pemerson]

Originally Posted by granny of 7

how did you send freeze dried icecream I think this will be a real treat for my sweetie

I bought it from a website. It's the same stuff the astronauts eat. I think I paid about $50 for 16-18 bars.

Nitro-Pak.com The World Leader in Innovative & Affordable Preparedness Gear

[kellycoupon]

My brother is in Iraq.. he's always asking for:

3M Dust Masks (or equivalent) - guess those dust storms are pretty bad!
Toiletries (travel size is best for him)
Beef Jerkey
CD's/DVD's (they can play em on their laptops)
Socks! (I think he thinks they're disposable!)
Candy/Gum
Baby Wipes
Hand Sanitizer (travel size)
Zip Locks (assorted sizes)
Cookies/snacks

and...

FREEZE POPS!
Yes - you heard correct!

He works in the motorpool warehouse - they have a freezer in there - I send (2) 100ct boxes of freeze pops once a week - they don't last long (he shares with everyone and his buddies are always waiting for my boxes to arrive!)

*I wouldn't suggest sending Freeze Pops randomly to any soldier - most of them don't have a freezer to put them in!*

He told me there are several men/women in his unit who have families back home, and don't have the "extra" money to buy their own toiletries - or when they get to the px there's nothing in stock.. He usually "shares the wealth" when I send him stuff - I'm sure a soldier who doesn't have family to send him stuff would GREATLY appreciate anything people send them

Make sure you request the Military Flat Rate Boxes - you can pack em as full as you can - flat rate ($11.95ish) no matter how heavy...

Great thread!

[cundiff2001]

the xl twin sheets that are on clearance at target. They are $1.97 right now. This was a big thing on the lists of requests I got. I cleaned out 4 targets for 26 sets. Now that I am in AZ i may get 5-10 more and put in my extra suitcase I brought. I am so glad these were so cheap!

[Cheri]

I am still looking for two soldiers, one male and one female, to send boxes to for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
If you have someone that needs a gift box, please pm me.
Thanks,
Cheri

[NJMom]

Okay, I am a little confused now and need a little guidance before dh sends our package.

I just weighed our package (dh and I just put it together) and it was 15 lbs in a non-flat rate box and when I looked up how much it would cost to send to his friend, it was only $10.80! It's a big box 12"X12"X12" -- does it HAVE to be a flat-rate box? I have some flat-rate boxes but none that were big enough to send everything we wanted to send. I would hate to send him less stuff because the box was too small which is why we decided to use a non-flat rate box. It just seems that most people in this thread mentioned using flat-rate boxes so now I am confused. Advice, please.

[dianescraps]

We have a local organization, Keystone Soliders, that ships items overseas. My mom and I gather our deals and try and drop off packages about every other month. This month mom took our stuff, plus over 300 pairs of socks that they collected at the Curves that she works out at.

We have sent lots of different stuff including much of what has already been mentioned. Also Glade Air Fresheners, mini tissue packs (those purse size ones), granola bars, moisturizers, Christmas stockings (we clear out the stores after Christmas, as well as do handmade ones), non aerosal shave cream, good razors, peanut butter, long johns, etc etc