Ask the Readers: How do you build an inexpensive care package?
Published on - November 16th, 2012 (by Ellen Cannon) This guest post was written by Jenny Saikwa who was inspired by Veterans Day.
I’m not exactly sure how Spit made his entrance, but the little stuffed camel certainly meant a lot to my son during the waning days of his first deployment in Afghanistan. The object of countless “missions,” Spit’s uncanny ability to sneak into a photo or weasel his way onto a helicopter was the stuff of legends. Spit celebrated his first Christmas next to a Charlie Brown-style tree at Bagram Airfield. Spit was also endowed with the straight-man’s knack for comedy. He’d show up posing for pictures and appearing on Skype. But no matter what the situation, Spit would just stare at you.
For my son, orchestrating Spit’s adventures kept him occupied during the long months of deployment. It was heart-warming that such a small, inexpensive item could connect us across the miles, and it required only a bit of humor and ingenuity.
My son will be serving in Afghanistan again this year and, though this deployment will be shorter, I’d like to do what I can to make the time sweeter. Friends and family typically pitch in too. Many of them write and connect via Facebook and email. Others send care packages, which we know he loves receiving!
During his first deployment, the thing he wanted most was a hammock, which sent me to every sporting goods store within reach. The Internet was of no help. You can spend hundreds of dollars on a hammock and even more to ship it to Afghanistan! Luckily, I was able to find the perfect lightweight parachute hammock for $15 at an out-of-the-way store while on a trip. And what’s more, it fit perfectly in the USPS military care package kit. That and the mosquito repellent, Hacky Sack, plastic bat and Wiffle ball were huge, I’m told!
If you have someone in your life who is serving in the military, you may already have this covered. But if you don’t, a care package from home means so much. Many of the day-to-day things we take for granted are in short supply, like deodorant, batteries, shoelaces, socks, and – of all things – Silly String! If sending a care package is beyond your reach, however, you might consider working with your school, religious group, or other civic organization that takes on projects like this. My friend’s six-year-old got support from her class to send a care package, and the cards were adorable.
How do you create an inexpensive care package? Do you have traditions to make deployment go faster? Does your loved one have a favorite item they hope to receive while overseas? If you were deployed, what items did you hope to receive?
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We always include diaper wipes in our military care packages.
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I agree with the comment above about diaper wipes. They are so versatile. If I were overseas, I would want a copy of my local town newspaper so that I could keep up with what was going on in my small town. That plus some of my favorite shelf stable snacks!
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My wife’s work often sends care packages and asks the employees to donate. We coupon and often get personal hygiene products for free. So we often send toothpaste, deodorant, ect… There is usually something else on the list and we’ll buy a few of those. Last time they asked for stuffed animals so they could pass them out to the local children.
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Play the “drugstore game” and use your coupons to get items for free or even as “moneymakers”. I sent care packages to my SIL this way. Freebies often included things like cosmetics, personal care, granola bars, candy… also when stores put holiday items 90% off. Who really cares if those little candies have pumpkins or easter bunnies on the wrappers?
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We always tried to include some home made items, like jerky, chocolate chip coookies, sun-dried tomatoes from the garden, as well.
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Preparing things yourself can really save you a lot of money and is more personal. I always go for that option when I can.
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I’ve never done this. I don’t know anyone in the military and don’t even know how people send them packages. Aren’t they always moving aroudn and stuff?
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Military members have an identifier that you use to send mail. The military knows where folks are, and they can get the mail to them. I don’t know what the currently use – when my brother was in the service, the identifier was still the SSN, but they have since switched that.
Rest assured, tho, that most packages get there. My brother served twice in Iraq and twice in Afghanistan, and he greatly appreciated care packages. An interesting twist is that service members can also order stuff online and get it shipped to them, so a lot of his fellow service members had ordered x-boxes and other expensive stuff.
That would actually be an interesting article if someone has the expertise. My brother mentioned that a lot of military guys had poor money management (especially since many military folks come out of poverty looking for social mobility and just don’t have money skills). It used to be easy to save up money on a deployment, because you couldn’t spend anything. It’s much, much easier for deployed troops to spend money via the internet now.
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I’m sure the silly string was a joke, but remember not to ship things like that in aerosol cans. This is especially true if the package you ship ever catches a plane. Changes in temperature and pressure, combined with a small dent you never noticed, could make it go boom.
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The Silly String wasn’t a joke. The soldiers use this to mark trip wires or other booby traps when they check out a building/area (identifies the trap for the soldiers who follow).
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Awesome article. Love the part about the stuffed camel showing up in pictures, etc. With the holidays coming up, I think it’s a great idea to send a care package.
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One great thing about military service personnel — they have U.S. addresses in terms of postage.
So when making a care package for my brother (who was in the Air Force, and stationed at various times in Iraq, Japan, and England), I used to use the pre-paid US shipping boxes. For a flat rate, you can fill the thing to the brim and have it be as heavy as possible and they’ll deliver it. So I’d throw in a book or 2, some cards or whatever, and then use candy (Jolly Ranchers/starlight mints, etc.) as the “packaging peanuts” all around them. It was a great way to ship him a gift, and give him tons of candy/etc. to share with the airmen/airwomen serving with him.
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Does anyone know how to “adopt” a soldier to send a care package? I don’t currently know anyone on active duty but a care package would be a nice thing to do for a stranger around the holidays.
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Hi, Jamie, There’s a link in the story to this site http://www.anysoldier.com/ where you can “adopt” a soldier. We should all do it!
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Any soldier is good. Our girl scout troop selected a soldier to “adopt” from the site, and the person who runs the website personally answered many questions that we had.
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There’s another group called Soldiers’ Angels, where you can “adopt” a soldier/marine/sailor/airman. This requires a bit more commitment, because you agree to send care packages and letters on a regular basis during the duration of the serviceperson’s deployment, but is a great option if you have the time and funds. You can also donate money or items for packages that they give to homeless veterans and/or to wounded warriors while hospitalized. They’re a great organization.
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Soldier’s Angels also lets you buy and send a package to “Any Soldier” as opposed to their other, longer-term and more intensive option. It’s a little less personal (because you’re not picking out the insides) but it’s a good option if you can’t commit to regular packages and letters.
http://www.angelsstore.org/
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We asked around to various businesses for donations – the best one (according to my deployed son) was the vials of normal saline eye drops – great for the dry area, and essential in the midst of a sand storm!
We also sent decks of cards, UNO card games, chewing gum and the most requested item from my son was jerky.
My son hated the wet wipes – said they just turned everything to “mud”.
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When my family members were serving overseas, the things they really missed were familiar foods. Hard to imagine, but whether they were stationed at a base in a major city or in combat everyday snacks we take for granted were sorely missed. I think Ritz crackers and Archway cookies were among them. And they didn’t care what condition they arrived in – crumbs were just as good as whole cookies.
I also found that HAND WRITTEN letters and photos were cherished. I know most people keep in touch now thru email and Internet pics, but having that personal connection you could hold in your hand was important.
My nephew is about to go to basic training. I can’t wait to hear what the current packages should hold.
God Bless Our Troops and Their Families.
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My son did two tours of Iraq. Among the things that were most popular: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles dvds, beef jerky, comic books, oven mitts (good for microwaved food and for hot tank shells), hearty soups for when the mess tent gets bombed, bed sheets (because they get wrecked in washing and need to be replaced) and SPECIFIC toiletries, because they can get what they need at the PX. He does not care for sweets, but liked sunflower seeds and gum. I also sent him lots of books, because he is quite a reader, but that follows individual taste. We sent him a small box every Saturday morning; planning it helped to keep us sane, too.
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Update on the aerosols on the plane, they’re fine really, just make sure the top is properly on.
Also deployed women love to get dry shampoo, frequently the showers are half a mile away or they’re out of service. Dry shampoo allows you to feel human.
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My husband is getting ready for another deployment overseas and he specifically requests good toilet paper and Girl Scout Cookies. Good toilet paper is a requirement as the milatary only provides the rough sand paper feeling ones.
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…great info, thanks!
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This post brings back memories, as I was sending care packages to my son in Bagram two years ago at this very time. Good quality jerky, individual servings-or foil packs-of tuna, hand sanitizer, spork (combo fork/spoon), newspaper clippings, pictures, homemade cookies, playing cards, and handwritten notes and letters. Things I’ll send if he deploys again are individual servings of aseptic milk (Horizon packages them and are often on sale for $1 apiece) and eyedrops. He chews so he also liked it when I’d send a few cans. PLEASE, no lecturing on the evils of chew, as he had more important things on his mind. He quickly said “no candy” as everyone, for lack of a better idea, sends huge amounts. Connecting through Facebook was the main reason I started using it. He might not have time for days to call, but could send messages on FB to let us know he was okay.
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My sister loved Pringles and homemade cookies. But it was the 99 cent can of potato chips that made her day.
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What is the rule on homemade goods? I’ve sent them before when it was someone I knew, but I just read that they don’t like you to send homemade treats anymore. At first I thought that it was a melting issue, but a friend told me it was security as well? Does anyone here happen to know?
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From what I have read, do not to send homemade food unless it is to someone you know. They are told to throw away food from strangers. This prevents possible allergy or food safety issues.
I found this link helpful, even though it’s from 2003. I’d love to know if there are any updates.
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/oa/news/2003/military03.htm
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I’ve used Herobox to send care packages. I liked them because their setup allows the soldiers to tell me exactly what they wanted. Most did not want candy, as others have said, they tend to get it a lot. Several requested air fresheners, nuts & jerky. The 1 female soldier asked for kleenex tissue & really found pond’s facial wipes useful. Also, she asked for seasonal decorations for her office. 1 asked for boxers – like the sheets mentioned earlier, sometimes the laundry left a lot to desired. I’ve sent food, snacks, books, magazines, small games, hygiene items, decorations, & detergent. It was very fulfilling, but i stopped with the uncertainty of people being called home and whatnot.
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Just to clarify on the uncertainty: I found that the last few soldiers I sent care packages to had signed up about 6 months before I pulled their name. Because of that lag, some were still overseas for awhile and some were getting shipped home after about a month. Nothing wrong with that really, but I tend to be a planner. Looking at the anysoldier.com site, I like the fact that the requests seem very up-to-date, though I’ll miss having the ability to ask individual soldiers EXACTLY what they want (brand, flavor, scent, etc).
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Anyone who’s considering doing this as a charitable gesture should realize it isn’t cheap to send these boxes. When you mail a box halfway around the world, you want to make it worth you and the soldier’s while. You do get a small price-break if PO personnel realize it’s going to a soldier over-seas. Also, you have to complete a customs form, listing what’s in the box. I was told by PO personnel to use ‘give to any chaplain’ on the line that asks what to do with the box if it’s non-deliverable. If you check ‘Return to Sender’, you have to pay the return postage. And I’d never send home-made food to anyone I didn’t personally know.
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This is from the USPS link in the story:
“An alternative to the Military Care Package Kit is the Large Priority Mail Flat Rate Box which is only $13.45 when mailed to an APO / FPO / DPO. The Large Flat Rate Box is 12″ x 12″ x 5-1/2″ and has a weight limit of 70 lbs.”
I was pleasantly surprised to learn that you could ship it for $14!
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If it’s a few boxes, mailed when you want to send one, then $14/box is a bargain. However, if you’re sending more than 2 a month, it still adds up. Most people, unless it’s family, don’t want to spend that kind of money
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I think what is best to send can vary not only based on the individual you are sending it to (assuming you know them), but also where they are stationed. What is available to the soldiers on their base can vary greatly. My husband was at a Forward Operating Base in northern Iraq (Taji) in 2007, and he did not have many creature comforts at all. Whereas soldiers stationed at Hussein’s old palace in Bagdad were quite comfortable in comparison.
Just saying it isn’t a one size fits all kind of thing…
One of the things my husband especially appreciated were the flavor packets you could add to water. He said the water tasted terrible. He also appreciated dried fruit. And one time he passed on an urgent request from a companion for coffee.
He also told me that unused greeting cards were a needed item — birthday, anniversary, etc. cards. Soldiers would want to send cards to their loved ones at home (child’s birthday), and these were not something typically stocked on the base. I went to a dollar store and stocked up on the inexpensive ones.
I used the USPS flat rate boxes (I was sending to an APO with a U.S. zip code and then the Army transferred it overseas), and I always made sure it was packed to the brim.
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Jenny,
Please relay my thanks to your son for his willingness to sacrifice and serve his country. Thank you to your entire family too.
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Heartfelt thanks, Julie. I will certainly pass that on to him, and hopefully our experiences will encourage others to find some fun ways to connect with someone who is serving. There are lots of great tips and ideas in these comments (thank you, all) and your sentiment is especially appreciated!
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the suggestions were great. What my friends wanted when they returned were, unscented panty liners for sweat pads in their helmets, gold bond powder for chafing, hard candy to suck on, powdered drink mixes to add to water and paperback books. When shipping homemade food stuff, my grandmother taught me to wrap it up and pack it in popped popcorn. It helps with the staleness.
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It’s also nice to have themed packages, for example items in the colors of whatever holiday is coming up.
It also fun to have other types of themes like”movie night” some fun $5 DVDs, microwave popcorn & movie candy. Or “game night” like cards, games, & snacks.
Mostly my hubby wanted his favorite snacks that he missed. If you know the soldiers, ask what they need! Sometimes they need something simple that’s not available to them at the time (like a flyswatter!).
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As a former Marine from Operation Desert Storm, I always appreciated QTips, wipes, gum, jerky, hard candy, music (pre loaded mp3 player or thumb drive should work, I used to get CD’s and loved it). Magazines are good, especially like Maxim or GQ or other mens magazines, but they’ll read anything in their down time. DVD’s are good as well.
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I’ve had several friends who were deployed , a couple of them more than once. as a group of friends we got together and got a bunch of snacks, wrote letters, just familiar stuff. I actually think it’s pretty fun and sweet to do. I like the idea of sending a care package to possibly someone i don’t know make their day a little brighter.
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