Show deployed soldiers you care by sending them something fun.
Military members love receiving care packages from family and from strangers. However, for those who have considered sending care packages, there are a number of pitfalls. The military has placed strict restrictions on sending certain things to military members posted overseas. Also, because there are restrictions against delivering mail to "any soldier," you must go through organizations like the Red Cross or a military organization to ship gifts to soldiers you don't know.
Climate-Themed Packages
Military members are often in extreme weather conditions. Keep in mind where they are and what the weather is like when you put together your care package. For instance, in desert Iraq you might send a soldier a sandstorm kit, including eye-covering goggles or sunglasses, bandanas and double-zip freezer bags in large sizes to help keep sand out of their faces and equipment. For soldiers who have a lot of sun exposure, good-quality sunscreen, lip balm, instant ice packs and aloe sunburn lotion make a great sun protection kit. Soldiers posted overseas in colder conditions will love heated socks and gloves, handmade scarves and packets of good-quality instant hot chocolate with marshmallows. Remember to have fun with your care packages; most soldiers are quite young and will appreciate gifts that allow them to be kids for a little while. For instance, a care package with computer and game system games will be highly prized.
Wives, Husbands and Sweethearts
For a soldier you love, nothing beats notes and pictures that remind both of you of your relationship. Send a package of notes, to be opened one per day, that have little reminders of how much you love your solder. Another appreciated gift is a pocket calendar with personal pictures decorating each month; you can make these up at a UPS store or through online services like Lulu Press or Vistaprint. Keep your gifts PG-rated; pornography is considered contraband and may be subject to confiscation.
Family
If the package you're sending is to your own loved one, there is nothing more precious to overseas military members than reminders of the family they will eventually return to. Always include letters and cards in care packages, especially if you can't regularly exchange emails. Children can send "refrigerator art" as a special treat; locks of hair, pictures and computer-readable DVDs with pictures, slide shows and home movies will all be treasured.
Premade Packages
If you aren't sure what kind of package to send but you want to support soldiers, consider purchasing a premade package appropriate for soldiers from one of hundreds of nonprofit and for-profit agencies. Allow the company to ship the care package for you; because of some unpleasant occurrences, the Department of Defense no longer allows packages or letters addressed to "any soldier" to be delivered unless the package comes from an authorized source.
Sponsoring Units
For ambitious care package groups, you might consider sponsoring units. Often, soldiers in the field have all the care packages they need, but could use some larger items like portable satellite Internet service with prepaid cards. For holidays, shipping an entire Thanksgiving dinner out could be feasible for a larger group, but not for individuals supplying individuals. If your large group or company is interested in helping soldiers in this manner, the Red Cross and the USO may be able to help with logistics.
Gifts for the Kids
One thing military members treasure is interacting with the often-impoverished children in foreign countries. Not only does it make them feel good to give small gifts to the children; it results in good relations and higher safety for troops in dangerous places. Care packages filled with hard candy, colorful school supplies, small stuffed animals and baby dolls, ribbons and toys you might pick up at the dollar store are happily received by the troops.
Dos and Don'ts
Because soldiers are often guests in foreign countries with different rules from ours, certain items are not allowed in care packages, including alcohol, pornography of any sort, tobacco (though nicotine gum is often appreciated) and pork products. Aerosol cans of any sort are a bad idea, as they explode. Candy is great, but chocolate is not so great, as your care package may frequently be subject to temperatures high enough to melt it; candy-coated chocolate candy may make it, but any other chocolate will probably not. Remember that military members often don't have access to even the most basic comforts like sheets and bug spray; look around your home at the simple things you love, and think about how you can replicate them for a military member. Mix up the ideas and send care packages with a wide variety of items addressing many different needs.
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