PILLOWCASES: Our family has a tradition of making pillowcases for deployment. Please read our story to learn more. Pillowcases - a Deployment Tradition in Our House
Dear Family and Friends: I put together a rather large list of different ideas that I found on the internet for care packages. I also included some personal likes or brands of Brian’s. These are just ideas to help you. You don’t have to stick to this list.
Flat-Rate boxes from the post office are the cheapest way to send care packages to the troops.You will need to fill out a customs form. The post office is very helpful or I can help you. You don’t have to list EVERYTHING that you put in the box. I usually just say toiletries, baked goodies, etc. Include your name and address inside the box. Occasionally when Brian receives the box, it is damaged or he is unable to read the sender’s name and address.
Toiletries:
• Bath towel & washcloth
• Purex Complete 3-in-1 Laundry Sheets
• Socks (white, tube)
• Shampoo: Suave green apple
• Deodorant: speed stick
• Toothbrushes & toothpaste
• Mach 3 razors/blades
• Gold Bond foot powder
• Shaving Cream (non-aerosol)
• Nail clippers
• Eye Drops for contacts
• Saline for contacts
• q-tips travel packs (used to clean ears and guns)
• Chapstick
• Mouthwash
• Dental floss/picks
• Eyeglass cleaner
• Tums/Rolaids
• Air activated heat wraps for sore muscles
• Icy hot patches
Food Items:
• Homemade goodies
• Smoked sardines
• Beef jerky (pork is not allowed in Arabic countries)
• Hot sauce/Tabasco sauce
• Banana chips
• Restaurant size condiment packs
• Altoids or mints
• Snack mixes
• Sunflower seeds
• Nuts
• Gatorade
• Spices
• Individually wrapped licorice
• Cereal bars/granola bars
• Single packets of drink flavors i.e. Gatorade, kool-aide, crystal light
• Brian loves SPICEY!! So if it’s hot, more than likely he’ll love it!!
Fun Stuff:
• Stickers: he decorates the kids’ letters with them so they know it’s for them from Daddy
• Stationery (troops can mail letters/cards free so stamps aren’t needed)
• iTunes card to download music, games, and movies
• packing tape
• Poker Game
• Voice recorded picture frames
• Gag gifts (they get bored, so they like to play tricks on one another)
• Dart board
• Handmade items
• Playing Cards
• Small MAG lite flashlight
• Dice
• DVD movies
• Newspapers
• Koozies to keep water bottles & cans cool
• Canned air to blow dust/sand out of electronics
• Stress relief squeeze balls
• Sewing kit
• Board games
• Notepads of paper
• Word puzzle books
