Posted on Nov 14, 2016
What do Deployed Service Members really want in their Care Packages?
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Christmas and Thanksgiving are right around the corner RP Members and Connections. Are you putting together a Care Package for a deployed service member? 90% of the stuff that is recommended are basic hygiene stuff like toothbrushes, deodorant, mouthwash, and things like that.
Which made me wonder, doesn't the military supply soldiers with this kind of stuff anyway?
What do you think should be in a Care Package and how many of you will sending one this Thanksgiving or Christmas to a deployed service member?
How many Corporate Offices will be putting them together this year? Civilian Supporters and Recruiters here on RP this may be a great way to give back to Service Members - Send a Care Package - more information down below on how to go about it!
Which made me wonder, doesn't the military supply soldiers with this kind of stuff anyway?
What do you think should be in a Care Package and how many of you will sending one this Thanksgiving or Christmas to a deployed service member?
How many Corporate Offices will be putting them together this year? Civilian Supporters and Recruiters here on RP this may be a great way to give back to Service Members - Send a Care Package - more information down below on how to go about it!
Christmas
Deployment
What Would You Do
Thanksgiving
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Edited >1 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 75
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Beef jerkey, AA and AAA batteries, hot sauce, American soap (PX selection usually not so great), baby wipes, headphones or ear buds, and socks would make a great care package.
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There is a wonderful organization called Homefront Hugs which has been active for over a decade folks might want to look into if you are interested in adopting a deployed troop or donating funds to defray the cost of shipping care packages. http://www.homefronthugs.org
I've adopted a hero for the duration of his deployment and luckily they specify anything in particular they would want. He asked for Sports Illustrated, chips and dried fruit, so in my twice a month boxes, I send the latest editions of SI, dried fruit, chips and other things like the baby wipes, hand warmers, snacks and the things I liked to get when I was deployed - silly things. At Christmas I sent him little Lego sets, blow up punching balloons, silly string, things they can have fun with. Next will be a little pack of Valentines like the kids use in school, some valentine decorations, candy, etc. I also make cards, so I will include 25 or so handmade cards with envelopes for various occasions like birthdays, missing you, etc. that my soldier can use to write home and he can share with his friends. These are quality cards I also sell, not just stickers slapped on cardstock. My husband works at a school so I ask him for letters from the kids as well as a letter from me in each box too.
I've adopted a hero for the duration of his deployment and luckily they specify anything in particular they would want. He asked for Sports Illustrated, chips and dried fruit, so in my twice a month boxes, I send the latest editions of SI, dried fruit, chips and other things like the baby wipes, hand warmers, snacks and the things I liked to get when I was deployed - silly things. At Christmas I sent him little Lego sets, blow up punching balloons, silly string, things they can have fun with. Next will be a little pack of Valentines like the kids use in school, some valentine decorations, candy, etc. I also make cards, so I will include 25 or so handmade cards with envelopes for various occasions like birthdays, missing you, etc. that my soldier can use to write home and he can share with his friends. These are quality cards I also sell, not just stickers slapped on cardstock. My husband works at a school so I ask him for letters from the kids as well as a letter from me in each box too.
Homefront Hugs USA | Where No Hero is Forgotten
January 1, 2017WELCOME KIDS & TEENS! Welcome Teachers and Families !! Happy New Year ! Hope you are having a great vacation and remembered why we have our awesome freedoms to enjoy !Did you remember to thank our heroes somehow even in your hearts? We have lots of exciting new ideas for the New Year too if you can help us bring hugs and smiles to our troops and vets...
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Well on ship liked books ( was before I pads and all the new electronic stuff cookies homemade type also just anything from home would work pictures yea you know what kind lol also koolaid and than when the hand held games came out that was great to get like the foot ball one which was just some lights but it was great
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PO3 John Wagner
You're giving away your age Chief.. but that football was fun. Expensive at the time. Can you imagine how close to nothing it actually cost to manufacture that thing?
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One bit of wisdom for people putting together care packages. Never, ever put bars of soap or detergent in the same box as food. The soap taste, smell and oder of soap works its way into everything in the box. Any food in that box becomes toxic and must be thrown away. If you try to eat it you can get sick. While we were deployed to Iraq in 2004 and 2005 we received many boxes like that. We threw out hundreds of food items. I tried to eat a few choice items but it was like eating soap. Please pack any type of soap or tabbaco items seperatly. Never in the same box as food. Thanks for taking the time and effort to send packages to deployed troops.
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I keep hearing how our troops don't have coffee, but not from military sources. When I was in Iraq for Desert Storm I could stop by the mess hall anytime for a cup of coffee. I agree we need to hear from the field as to what is truly needed. The only thing I lacked was a proper coffee cup; my canteen cup wasn't a great way to enjoy my morning coffee, and when I came back, I bought a camping cup at a LL Bean store.
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SGM Joel Cook
Sir, my last tour in Balat, Iraq I was doing secure office work. Pretty much tied to the desk in the office. It could not close for any reason from 07:00 to 19:00. Three of us ate in shifts like everything else we did. DFAC was over a mile away and we had no vehicle so we walked. That is a long way for a cup of coffee. We were lucky because Balat had a PX with coffee and coffee pots for sale. So our problem was solved. The soldiers we provided services to came from all over Iraq by ground and air. Many from outside the wire with no PX and no coffee or pots. Their meals delivered in MERMITEs with coffee twice daily, the third MRE. Many times soldiers would come in the office and stare at the coffee pot, or comment on it, or just ask for a cup because they hadn't had any in days while on convoy. We didn't have styrofoam cups but I bought two extra mugs and just kept them in the office for guests. The latrine was just around the corner so for the cup of coffee they just had to wash the cup out and return it. I don't think it saved anyone's life but we sure improved a lot of soldier's morale for a few minutes.
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Me, I'd just want some Beef jerky chew (Like ground up in what looks like a dip can) but has none of the nuclear fallout in the can XD
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