I plan on sending a care package to the soldiers ...?

I received a Camelback for Christmas but I already have one. It is a nice one too but I think they deserve it more so that will be going to them. Do you have any other ideas on additional gifts to send? I need inexpnsive gift ideas because I am in high school with practically no money. lol. Please be mature in your answers. Thanks so much!

Sorry! **inexpensive**

Since I am talking from the Soldier point of view, I know that anything is appreciated. The best things for food are things that won't melt and don't require cooking. Packs of tuna, beef jerky, ect. Also, a great way to get in contact with soldiers who need things is to check out www.anysoldier.com.

send hard candy especially those japanese ones....dont give chocolate they will melt

Chewing gum, baby wipes, hand sanitizer, candies (not chocolate), magazines, disposable cameras, word searches, crossword puzzles, sudoku books....the list goes on!

I would suggest going to the dollar store and getting as many things as you can. Be careful though, even the dollar store can be a rip off LOL. They will appreciate anything, it's the thought that counts!

There are, unfortunately, policies against sending packages to our soldiers. That is because anti-war extremists have sent some pretty horrible things to them. Although I am very anti-war I would never in a million years think to do something as horrible as that. Makes me ill.

So .. what you'll need to do is look on-line for a third party which sends things to our soldiers and go that route .. but still because of some of the sick-os out there you may still come up against difficulties.

Good luck

My husband and his unit really dug home baked goods while he was doing a tour in Iraq. Since you're in highschool, and money is an issue, baked goods would be a great idea for you and really mean a lot to the soldiers that don't get to eat home made stuff. I'd suggest shortbread and cookies. It'd be a good idea to get your friends to bake with you!

****OH YEAH! and if you contact the USPS and ask for the military care kit...they'll send you the packaging supplies for free so you can send $8 flat rate boxes to them either through the local National Guard post or adopt-a-soldier programs.

chap stick is good, magazines, i sent my son an UNO card game, the single pack one (it was like $4) beef jerkey, hard candy, oh single packs of lemonade to add to the water, hostess cupcakes, oreos, phone cards.

just thought of a few to get you started.

The following is a list of the most commonly requested items from the soldiers. Consider putting some of these in your care package, I'm sure they would be ecstatic to receive any of them.

chewing gum
tooth paste
pocket comb
tooth brush
razors
Kleenex
dental floss
chap stick
foot powder
bobby pins
shampoo
conditioner
Q-Tips
socks
gloves
cough drops
Midol
Antacids
Tbs soap
Vitamins
Toilet Paper
detergent
chips
hard candy
crackers
Beef Jerky
Cookies
dried fruits
Nuts
Lipton Cup Of Soup
Neosporin
Feminine Stuff
Magazines
Heating Tablets
P38 Opener
Plastic Utensils
Book
Writing Material
Batteries
Game Journal
Word Puzzles
Homemade Cookies

They get Camel backs Issued to them. But hey if you want to send it go ahead. Anways Send them Sunflower seeds. They help so much on convoys when you're tired. Gatorade The powder kind. Powered Lemonades, Teas. Those are great out there. Little Debby snacks, Cross word puzzles. Tooth brushes. Batteries, paper deoderant, Shampoo Soap, Those Lufa things, Razors These are the things they used the most.

My buddies oversees SPECIFICALLY told me that they only wanted three things:

- Candy
- Cigars
- Porn

Trust me, I'm being as mature as possible.

Powdered drink mixes, Mrs. Dash (For the MRE's) hard candy, PHONE CARDS, baby powder (great in socks in warm climes, and other places).
Also find out a soldier you can specificaly send it to. The USPS won't accept any soldier mail any more just addressed to APO AE 93568, and crazy as it seems, the post office even has a customs form on it.

Go to: www.usps.com and click on the Postal Bulletin, it comes up in a PDF format, go to the APO/FPO/ list, and it will give you a list of what can and can not be sent, some countries will not allow pork products, things like that, check before you pack..

Thank you for supporting the troops!!!

(Ex-Navy but don't hold that against me LOL)



COP QUOTE:
The handcuffs are tight because they're new. They'll stretch out after you wear them awhile."