futrMarineBlueAngel
Registered User
What do soldiers deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan need/want from us?
books? toiletries? blankets?
books? toiletries? blankets?
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What do our soldiers in Iraq need?
- Thread starter futrMarineBlueAngel
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Cate
Pretty much invincible
For a bunch of sites that take care of soldiers/Marines/etc., including lists of things to send (and things not to send), check out Naked Furniture's 1st Annual Put Up Or Blow Me.
goldwingdreams
Registered User
Link for standard anonymous USO care packages: http://www.usocares.org/src/uso_home.htm
Not sure if they really WANT this stuff but it never hurts to show a little love.
Not sure if they really WANT this stuff but it never hurts to show a little love.
gagirl
Registered User
We sent packages when the war first started to my husbands old platoon and sent things like (all of these in single packs) oatmeal, coffee, cream, salt, pepper, kool aid, breakfast bars, grits, gum and ramen noodles. All things you just had to add water too. Hard candy. visine, toothbrushes, beef jerky, qtips, pens, paper, cameras, pipe cleaners, baby wipes, chapstick, white crew socks, calling cards, newspapers (sports) and car/truck mags and sport mags. Powdered gatorade etc. dip and cigarettes. I too hated contributing to those habits, but if it keeps their mind on what they're doing and puts a smile on their face then I'll send them whatever they want.
:bulb_125: I also packed almost everything inside ziplocs. (actual zip kind) That way if anything spilled it wouldn't ruin other things and the ziplocs were re-used by the troops for their letters from home and pictures etc to keep safe.
Crossword and word find books too are good. I had my girls preschool class make pictures and the guys really appreciated it. Some even kept them.
If you want seasoning type things which I think are needed with the MRE's you can go to chick fil a and inside they have salt,pepper and tobasco (I think). I went a few times and got a few handfuls.
Hope this helps. I keep thinking there are other things we sent, but this is what comes to mind. I do know that socks were huge!!! You can imagine how long they're on their feet and how dirty they must get.
Hope this helps.
Anne
:bulb_125: I also packed almost everything inside ziplocs. (actual zip kind) That way if anything spilled it wouldn't ruin other things and the ziplocs were re-used by the troops for their letters from home and pictures etc to keep safe.
Crossword and word find books too are good. I had my girls preschool class make pictures and the guys really appreciated it. Some even kept them.
If you want seasoning type things which I think are needed with the MRE's you can go to chick fil a and inside they have salt,pepper and tobasco (I think). I went a few times and got a few handfuls.
Hope this helps. I keep thinking there are other things we sent, but this is what comes to mind. I do know that socks were huge!!! You can imagine how long they're on their feet and how dirty they must get.
Hope this helps.
Anne
EngineGirl
Sleepy Head
One thing that I know that the soilders really liked during the first Gulf war and have enjoyed during this war is hand made letters and notes. (Hear me out on this one). I've taught Sunday school and we'd get the children to make pictures and hand written notes to include in packages. We always heard that it was a great hit for the soilders. Everyone else has covered pretty much everything.......Just want to re emphasize to send something. When I was deployed in the Med, I was sooooooo happy to get anything in the mail (granted, the cookies my family sent were always big hits and devoured completely in about 4.2 minutes after the package was open). Thanks for asking!!! Hopefully you've gottens some good ideas here!!!
EngineGirl
EngineGirl
A good friend on mine who's a platoon ldr in Baghdad says granola bars /nutrigrain /powerbars and the like a great for taking on patrol.
gagirl
Registered User
I know giving out personal information is a no-no, but does anyone know of a family member or friend that is in Baghdad/Fallujah right now? I want to send some packages, but I don't know of anyone specifically.
I know you can do things through the USO etc. but I want to send something to an actual person and know where it's going.
You can PM me and I will give you my email address or whatever. I want these packages going to those on the ground.
Anne
I know you can do things through the USO etc. but I want to send something to an actual person and know where it's going.
You can PM me and I will give you my email address or whatever. I want these packages going to those on the ground.
Anne
Eagle32
I'm taking you to the looneybin.
We craved twizzlers, jolly ranchers, standard magazines previously noted, but most important is the thought that someone back home was thinking about us. Most of the bases there had decent BX/ PXs where one could find junk food and mags. It is just nice to get stuff from home!
bennett4362
deployment sucks
gagirl said:
anne, i was thinking the same thing. let me know if you hear of anyone; i'd like to contribute as well.
sonshine
PLC06 Applicant
ditto as well.
...So I have this idea, and I thought I'd bounce it off ya'll, just to see what ya think...
My idea is to get pizza places or restraunts to partner with schools to raise support for the troops by getting our young people involved, so that they can come to understand and appreciate the significance of the servicemembers sacrifices; and have fun doing it as well. Schools could hold a contest for kids, having classes compete against each other to collect items needed to send in the freedom boxes to troops overseas, with the winning class receiving a pizza party. If I could get pizza places like Mazzio's or Pizza Hut to donate six or seven pizzas to every school that holds one of these contests, I am positive schools would be willing to get involved. Also the long-term effects of restraunts donating a few pizzas per school would most certainly make up for the short term expenses. I remember in high school having contests like this except holding them to collect canned food. The amount of kids that will get involved, just to try to get out of a class and eat pizza is amazing, it is also an awesome way to get kids to donate items which are so dearly needed. I was talking with my sisters about this (we came up with the idea last night, so we still have a lot of kinks to work out. lol) and after talking with the Principal at my little sisters school this morning, we've already got them on board.
I dont know if any kind of program that works directly with schools like this exists or not but there isn't one where I live so I figure I might as well start one. I believe that regardless of our politics, and whether we are for or against the war, our troops need our messages of support not of dissent; and this would be a great way for schools and business to help show support.
If ya'll have any advice or comments I'd like to hear them.
Rachel
...So I have this idea, and I thought I'd bounce it off ya'll, just to see what ya think...
My idea is to get pizza places or restraunts to partner with schools to raise support for the troops by getting our young people involved, so that they can come to understand and appreciate the significance of the servicemembers sacrifices; and have fun doing it as well. Schools could hold a contest for kids, having classes compete against each other to collect items needed to send in the freedom boxes to troops overseas, with the winning class receiving a pizza party. If I could get pizza places like Mazzio's or Pizza Hut to donate six or seven pizzas to every school that holds one of these contests, I am positive schools would be willing to get involved. Also the long-term effects of restraunts donating a few pizzas per school would most certainly make up for the short term expenses. I remember in high school having contests like this except holding them to collect canned food. The amount of kids that will get involved, just to try to get out of a class and eat pizza is amazing, it is also an awesome way to get kids to donate items which are so dearly needed. I was talking with my sisters about this (we came up with the idea last night, so we still have a lot of kinks to work out. lol) and after talking with the Principal at my little sisters school this morning, we've already got them on board.
I dont know if any kind of program that works directly with schools like this exists or not but there isn't one where I live so I figure I might as well start one. I believe that regardless of our politics, and whether we are for or against the war, our troops need our messages of support not of dissent; and this would be a great way for schools and business to help show support.
If ya'll have any advice or comments I'd like to hear them.
Rachel
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