Damn. Just got back from shopping and got most of the stuff on Bluesman’s list but hadn’t checked out the link Cranky gave. Got some of the extras just by guessing, but missed out on some of the others. (Dithered over sunscreen and good razors but didn’t know if those were issued. Rats.) Oh well, that’ll be for the next box.
A bit of guidance, please? If I’m reading the list right, one of the needs is for easy, compact storage. I bought some very light plastic boxes (shoebox size), with tight, sealable lids. Will those work instead of the plastic buckets for the wall lockers? I don’t want to send stuff that will more nuisance than help.
Also…really stupid question, here…I was thinking about including some small journal-type notebooks, good pens, and cards/stationary with a roll of stamps. Would the stamps be needed?
Veb
[sub]Who’s discovered that plastic hangers are a real bugger to pack. [/sub]
Oh. Thanks. I thought that a PFC was above a private. Sort of like first class is better than coach on an airplane? Gah. Everything I know about military rank I know from MAS*H. I’ll just call him Bobby.
I looked at the various lists that people linked to…and I wanted to share my bright idea. It seems that the guys really like to get ramen noodles. They’re lightweight and only 10 cents a package at my store. So I bought 10 packages, and I’m going to use them as “packing material” in my care package box. I also got batteries, wipes. Oreos, drink mix, kleenex, candy, gum, and other snack items. It was fun shopping for my Marine. Hopefully he’ll write back and tell me the things that he really could use.
Thanks for the tip about letters arriving before boxes, light strand. I’ll send a letter first.
Great idea, and well put together – the Doper community at work to build a better world!
And would folks please print out Jersey Diamond’s post and make sure that gets sent to troops they’re corresponding with – I think it will touch them just as much as it did me!
I’ve seen some 50Hz systems with two round prongs (used just about everywhere in SW Asia instead of the two ‘spades’ on a typical US electrical system) and I’ve seen some three pronged stuff. Unfortunately, I think you can only get the “American” extension cords here. But, whatever you can send helps.
YES! You’ve hit the head on the nail. Back around 9/11 there was a program that deployed troops could just write “FREE” on the envelope instead of putting a stamp on it. I can’t guarantee this is still going on, but any material someone could write a decent letter served two purposes:
It gave the troops something decent to write home with, and write on. . .
It gave the folks back home something decent to read off of - which reassured them that they weren’t in dire need if they had decent stationery and supplies (as opposed to sending a letter home on the back of a paper bag).
You can never go wrong with stamps, stationery, or pens and pencils. Besides, you don’t always write home - sometimes you can’t find a decent pen to finish your paperwork with . . .
Tripler
. . . or write a check to buy something you needed from the PX/BX.
ISTR that there’s a kind you can get that will fit into both 3- and 2-pronged outlets. It comes with a sort of metal “grounder” for the optional third prong.
Another question for Bluesman, Tripler, Airman, or any other military Dopers: Are there many women deployed overseas right now? And, if so, are they in need of, uh, feminine products? I haven’t seen any mention of that specific need, although Jessity told me that she had. Although both of my soldiers are male, I’d love to send pads/tampons to any female soldiers in need; I know I’d be lost without my favorite brand of sanitary napkins. (TMI?) Plus, I’d think they’d make great packing material.
Veb, the good people over at Adopt-a-Platoon told me not to send stamps, although they didn’t give a reason.
Serendipity, there are most likely a proportionate amount of females deployed overseas. As far as feminine products, I honestly can’t answer–I’ve only once had to deal with that sort of situation because the airlines lost one of my troops’ luggage.
I’m sure it comes up from time to time, but maybe it’s something best to handle between ladies (maybe you know one who could stockpile them for emergencies?)? Just trying to be polite about it. . .
iampunha, the ‘prongs’ they have over there are more like small tube contacts, versus the flattened ones we have here. AFAIK, the conductor of a cable will carry a current just as well. You just gotta make sure the contacts match up. . .
Tripler
But, that’s not to say all deployed sites have “Arabic electrical receptacles”.
There are women deployed. I agree with you about the feminine products, I just don’t know where you’d send them.
Veb, keep most of the stamps. If you want to send some, just send a couple, in case something goes awry. Deployed units don’t require postage for their outgoing mail. However sometimes a stamp will move things along. Stationary and pens are a great idea! Think how hard it is to keep your pen office let alone in the middle of the desert. I might suggest throwing an old fashioned pencil in there too, as they are always readily sharpened, and they don’t run out of ink. Also, no one will steal your crummy pencil.
Green Bean, the Marine Corps rank structure makes little sense, it even gets more confusing as you get into the officers. But, it’s still is easier than the Navy’s!
Jerky people, think jerky for your packages! It’s my husband’s favorite, so perhaps I’m biased. He hoards it like it’s gold, and then bitches because other Marines “borrow” it.
I could swear I saw a “wish list” or suggestion to send sanitary napkins, etc., but I could just be delusional.
The best way, I guess, (and someone please correct me if I’m wrong,) to make sure our female soldiers get things like that is to send it to an organization that is collecting donations to ship out to troops. The people handling that would be able to make sure that they went to a female and so on. (I think.)
bluesman’s op mentioned a first name of delia. unless the parents were tired of waiting for a girl after 9 boys and named the last boy: delia; i’m figuring the person mentioned is a girl. so perhaps sending feminine items would be okay. also fem. napkins are rather good for first aid as well as the intended use.
Bluesman- So is the intent here to send this stuff to you, and you will in turn ship it Over There? Or should we deal with one of the other organizations?
Becuase I’ve probably got close to 50 car magazines sitting in a box in my garage, and I’m sure I can get a bunch more Stuff, Maxim and more car magazines from my roomies.
I’ve got a LCpl in the Marines to write to. I’ll be shopping for him tomorrow. I read in an earlier post to send a letter first. Would it be OK to send a big padded envelope with a few things first or does that qualify as a package ?
Hey, guys, I’m thinking of getting my two older girls (ages 15 and 12) American soldiers in Iraq to write to, and making it part of their school (writing). Do you think that the guys over there would be OK writing to kids this young (their very articulate and bright)? I figure it’s probably a case of them being lonely enough that they’re probably thrilled to hear from anyone. I can also have them cut out sports scores from the paper and such. Do you think this would be alright?
Just signed up with operationmilitarysupport.com and it’s FAST! Some of the sites linked in earlier threads had a two week waiting list, but this one resulted in a soldier’s name IMMEDIATELY. I can’t wait to put together a package and it’s going out tomorrow!
Letters sometimes arrive out of order. This is probably especially true now, when everyone in their cousin is sending stuff over there, and when troops are moving around so much.
You might consider numbering your letters, to help your recipient make sense of things. And you might consider including your introductory info (here’s who I am, here’s why I am writing you) for the first half-dozen letters, and in your first pacakges.
Small boxes will arrive faster, too, so resist the impulse to send a refrigerator box full of goodies. A shoebox is perfect.
Anywhoooo, I went to the Dollar Store by me and picked up assorted items, mainly, thanks to **Tripler’s ** fine suggestion, ten packs of cards and some hacky sacks.
I know what it is like being bored with nothing to do. I am currently looking for travel chess games. Y’know, too bad they don’t make *jarts * anymore…feh.
Next payday, I’ll send another package.
It is amazing how much *fun * it is shopping for something like this and just how far you can stretch $20.
**Jessity ** I, too, am concerned about this feminine product situation. ASAIC, there should be some kind of update on the CNN/Fox Ticker. *Quantities of Kotex Overnights are low over at the 101 Airborne. Tampax Glide are in short supply over in Kuwait. *
As a female, it is our worst nightmare to run out of this kind of critical stuff. ( Not only is it useful for our period, but a tampon can be used as a fire starter, strapped to an arrow as an extremely lame firework (done it) and pads can be used in a pinch for wounds, sticky notes and a quick game of tic tac toe. Their versatility is endless.)
I have a question:
I went to target to get neat-o stuff…
and at lunch, the news guy said that the officials are asking people to NOT send stuff unless you are family. He said that space is at a premium on flights over there.
Sorry I can’t be of too much help here. This is going to be my first deployment.
I will say one thing, though. Remember, if you’re getting extension cords and the like, the power standards everywhere else in the world are different. I think that Radio Shack sells power adapters for the 240 volt AC standards that the rest of the world uses. That would allow people to use their 110 volt equipment without turning it into junk.
