[kwhaley1967]

My son's best friend since kindergarten has just been deployed to Afghanistan. I want to get a package out to him, but am concerned about what to send or not send. Anyone with experience sending care packages please tell me what you send and what holds up well during the shipping process. I would hate for him to be disappointed to get a package and everything be ruined. Right now I have lifesavers, gum, chapstick, microwave popcorn. I was thinking of some cracker type items, chips and canned food in microwave bowls. Is it okay to send cans of shave cream or are these considered aerosol cans? I would like to send one food package and one hba package as I have read that you should not mix the two. Are OTC meds such as tylenol etc ok to send. Thanks in adavance for any help you can give me. This is a very special kid to me and I feel like he is one of my own (except I don't have to discipline him ) He's always been a good kid and overcome many obstacles to become a good man and a good soldier. I want to support him in any and every way I can. Thanks again for any help you can offer.

[jskell911]

Here are some sites with some good guidelines

Any Soldier Inc. ... What to Send *****

Pen Pals For Soldiers - What to Send - Land of the Free, Because of the Brave

Adopt a Soldier

How to Know What To Send To Soldiers In Afghanistan And Iraq | eHow.com

Hope they help!

[kwhaley1967]

Thank you, I will check them out. I am anxious to get a package together to get there hopefully before Thanksgiving.

[DebB831]

The post office is now having to have the insertion lists printed out instead of handwritten. Not sure if that already started or starting in November. But, just double check - the other sites above probably have all the information on it. I believe it is 2976A. Your post office can help you out with that. I suggest having it before you start to box anything up so you can write a detailed list of what is going in it. They don't care as much about having the weight all measured out (i.e. 1.2 pounds books) but like a general idea of what is in there.

[Amberbamber]

Just read this post and when my husband was there both times I sent him all the things you said you already had. Also, they love, love,love beef jerky! Baby wipes are also in demand. I found he needed them like crazy in Afghanistan because there are still places with no running water and/or power. Gum and hard candy are big faves too. Things like travel/trial sized q-tips, mouthwash, TP are also good. They often have to carry their rucks full of gear so the smaller the extra stuff is the better. Also, one of them most requested items were drink mixes. Cold like Crystal Lite or hot like hot cocoa or the coffee packets. I got requests to send those almost more than anything. Of course things are different for every job but this is just based on my experience. Afghanistan is EXTREMELY cold in winter and it snows alot depending on the area they are in. So those warmer things that you snap and put in gloves or boots are also great!The flat rate boxes are discounted to APO's as I'm sure you know but be prepared to completely fill out the customs forms. Sorry this was so long but I kept thinking of things. As the wife of a frequently deployed soldier, thank you for taking the time to do this for your son's friend!!

[janinep81]

Just read your post and u may have already mailed...if not.....they also love magazines! When my hubby was in Iraq (now getting ready for Afgh.) he always asked for them, razor blades (px was always, always out of his), beef jerky (yuk!), and strangely enough fruit snacks. Also as a previous poster said, water flavors (see if you can find the gatorade or propel...keeps em' hydrated in the scorching heat). My mom sent my hubby egg crates (the padding for beds) if and only if he's in a barracks...NOT moving around constantly....that's a great idea....makes it a little more homey Hope this helps and thanks for helpin him out

[cabby]

My son was over in afghanastan and I sent tuna pouches , chips, cookies, beef jerky, peanuts, toothpaste, shampoo, socks,foot powder, magazines, hand held games. I can't think of everything but tried to send things that would be easy. protein kinds of food. Due to the conditions over there I wasn't sure if he had access to a can opener ect. I sent mac and cheese in the cup, soups,fruit cups. razors, soap, deodorant, qtips. He told me not to send medicine.

[massachoomommy]

Was going to ask a similar question. Thanks for all the helpful replies!!

[shanabme]

Gum
Candy - hard candy travels very well. Wonka or haribo gummies.
Taffy or carmels, most chocolate melt. In some cases freeze. You can try things like snickers bars, reeses crisp, zero or kit kat bars. Those all seem to make it. Just stick them in baggies in case so they don't melt on anything else.
M&Ms - it's choclate that will hold it's shape when it gets hard. The chocolate that the area has is not the same - bittersweet so they really like chocolate from home.
The Sweet n Salty granola bars travel good, too. (Peanut and Almond)
Our son and others have asked for things like the canned cheese and club crackers,
nuts, Wasabi peas, pringles. World Market has lots of pre packaged cheeses and smoked salmon for a special kind of package.
The single serve cereals that can be eaten as a snack - footloops etc.
If he is flying much - ginger candy and chews - settles the stomach in flight.
If there is a freezer available - freezer pops are a big hit.
Mobility is an issue. If he is base camp and has a place to come home to everynight, what can be sent is very different than if he is FOP or vagabond. Do you have any idea what his day to day will be? May be too soon.
They will be getting items from many places. The ideas that were they most appreciated were at home favorites that the boys and girls could not get and items that were a little more luxurious or frivolous.
I have a cake recipe that travels very well and is baked in individual servings. If you want it let me know. I'll pm it to you.
Cookies and brownies go over well.
Toiletries that are what he likes. If he likes Gillette body wash that will go over well. They can get some items if they are at a base area but it can be expensive. So nicer toiletries are a good bet.
Bug spray. All that free cutter bug spray will come in handy for them. My guys used it to spray their boots more than themselves.
Boot spray and foot powder.
Fresh socks and underwear. Big deal for them.
Calendars from the dollar store.
Magazines and local papers - If he's into cars hot rod and mags like that. We sent diving mags and the local surf papers. They get pass from guy to guy so any subject will get read. Mags with good photos were appreciated because they could pull out the pictures and decorate their spaces with them.
Paperback books.
We sent DVDs from big lots. They are 2-3 dollars a piece. Most are PG and PG13 so safe to send. But they get/got watched over and over again. Most of the units start up DVD and book libraries that they share and then leave behind for the next group.

CDs of the music his friends back home are listening to. Just download music to a CD and send it. Or send them itunes cards if they took an MP3 player. They will have some computer access.

Anything you send will be appreciated becase you are thinking of him. That is the most important thing for him to know.

[mbchic2004]

When my husband was deployed I sent basically EVERYTHING that wouldn't go bad in their extreme climates. Around the holidays Wal-Mart has the 1$ stocking stuffer things. Josh got wind up Go Fish games, playing card games, books, nerf footballs (those went flying through the racks at night!).

As far as food goes, make sure you send some plastic silverware too, otherwise they're eating baked beans with fingers ( I forgot the first time)

If he's a guy with a sense of humor baked beans are always fun to send if you get a good deal (yea, we all know guys have contests to "Gas" each other out)

If he has microwave access the betty crocker warm delights are awesome
any mixed drinks
hand lotion!
body wash/shampoo in one (like the gillette or nivea)

pretty much anything you can think of they need! in fact, my husband ran out of food water when they were deployed!!!!! they were rationed one MRE per day for about a month before a supply truck was able to get there. So even if you find a good deal on a case of water or capri sun, they can use that

HTH

[mbchic2004]

Oh yea, most important are PICTURES (magazine or otherwise)

If you're just donating stuff it can be pictures not of your family but just of "real" life. I sent Josh pictures of the woods, flowers, the beach, inside the mall. Just little things to remind them of home.