Deployed soldiers look forward to care packages they receive from home.
You may have a family member or a friend who is overseas fighting for his country, or you may just want to brighten the day of a deployed U.S. soldier. To show your support and dedication, send over a care package. Care packages may include items such as perishable foods and drink mixes, and sentimental care packages can give a soldier a little touch of home while she is many miles away.
Food
Make your own trail mix.
To keep the soldiers healthy, you can send over packets of protein packs or powdered drink mixes. Dried fruits are a non-perishable food item welcomed by the troops. You can include pouches of dried apricots, peaches and cranberries, for example. For a treat, send his favorite snack, such as pretzels or popcorn. Bags of individually wrapped hard candies are a sweet little treat for the troops, or you can purchase bags of trail mix to send over. You can also make your own mix by combining such items as peanuts, cashews, sunflower seeds and raisins.
Accessories
Overlooked items include sunglasses and suntan lotion or sunscreen. Also, while a solider wears fatigues most of the time, he may still need undergarments. Include items such as socks, underwear and bras. You can also send items such as a Swiss army knife, a folding pocket knife or nail clippers. For those soldiers stationed in colder climates, you can include gloves, scarves and hats. Battery-operated hand-held fans can be used by soldiers stationed in warmer climates -- but don't forget to include extra batteries.
Entertainment
Keep the soldiers entertained with novels penned by a favorite author. Send along an MP3 player with her favorite music downloaded, or send DVDs of her favorite movies to watch during downtime. If she has a favorite magazine, such as "Women's Health" or "Cosmopolitan," send along three or four months of missed issues.
Pictures
He may be away for a long time, so send a little touch of home with a scrapbook or a photo album. Include older pictures so he can reminisce, and include recent photographs of family and friends. In a scrapbook, you can add in cherished mementos, such as a poem he likes. You can also include a disposable or digital camera into the care package so he can take pictures of friends on the base and send them to you.
Toiletries
You can purchase ready-made hygiene kits for men and women. Most of these gifts baskets include basic necessities such as soap, toothpaste and deodorant. As an alternative, create a homemade toiletry package by combining items, such as tampons and deodorant or lip balm, for her. For him, you could include shaving cream and disposable razors. Think of other specific needs of your solider. For instance, if she is prone to dry skin, include specific products to ease the condition, such as moisturizing and hydrating lotions and creams.
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