Further research-
Matchbox cars. Kites. Yoyo’s. Bouncy balls.
Gloves, hats, and mittens. Even though they’re in the desert and it can get up to 120 degrees easily in the summer, it is also getting quite cold.
Little Debbie snack cakes. McDonald’s happy meals toys.
Crayons, backpacks, notepads, erasers, pencils.
I think a size four or five for the most part.
Cool, next question. If we decide to send a battery flashlight what size batteries are readily available in Iraq? C? D ? AA?
I’m thinking that if AA is available, an LED AA flashlight might be the best. They cost a few pennies more, but burn a lot longer than an incandescent on a set of batteries.
PayPal sent. Keep up the good work.
I have former students on the ground in Iraq, and it’s heartening to hear that we’re doing some Good Things.
Regarding the sign language, let me get back to you on that. I’ll check with a source I have at the U of Washington to see if he has any ideas of where to look or what might be best for a family over there.
What that kid’s using sounds like basically what US folks call ‘home sign’. Homebrew gestures that are mutually agreed upon to mean something, but which won’t be intelligible to anyone except the family members for the most part. Does this sound accurate?
I’ll send a mail to your profile to ask a few more questions about the family’s situation.
<ker-BUMP!>
Soccer balls start at about size 3 for kids 6-8, then four for 9-12, then five after that. But that’s here and in other places where we have too much money. In most of the real world, it won’t matter. Kids will play with what they have and be happy to get it. Don’t worry about it too much.
Just got here. I have probably 13 months left.
The kids love pens. A lot. I mean, they ask for pens. I think different color pens and markers would be great. Slinkies would probably be cool, not sure about balloons. Keep in mind that I don’t have the luxary of just pulling over a truck and handing stuff to kids. I wish I patrolled in such a place. Sometimes, chance will put me in a situation where there are a few kids (or more) around and I’ll be stationary for a little bit. In that situation, I can pull out a goodie or two from my pocket.
Most things will be tossed from the vehicle like a parade float, though. We often drive pretty slow throw the neighborhood, with frequent stops.
The other things, like the lights and stuff. When I find certain houses who could benefit from those things, then I will make a quick trip back to the vehicle and get it for them.
Occassionally I’ll come across a child who I make a trip back to the vehicle for, but it’s going to be mission dependant. Like I said, most things will be handed out on the move–whether it’s walking or driving.
So little things that can go in my pockets, and things that can be tossed from a parade float are the best ideas. That should make the bulk of it, anyway. The other stuff will be delivered to houses with a specific need, or special case.
Well, I know there are pleanty of 9 volts in this country. I’m not sure how many are not connected to IEDs, though.
AAs seem to be pretty common as well.
Thanks for looking into it. Yea, it seems like her brother and family understand her, but noone else will. The gestures just looked way too. . . well, just not organized or efficient. And way too much use of facial expressions and what basically just looked like sharades. I’ve watched people sign before. It seems more organized and controlled, and the hands pretty much stay in the same place. Totally unlike what I witnessed here.
I bought three soccer balls today with the PayPal cash. Most of the balls on base need air. I have to look into getting them inflated (no pumps for sale on post…) But I could probably use a hand pump. There are needles for sale, just no pumps. Using the air compressor in the motor pool or in the vehicle will be too much of a hassle. Better to just get a hand pump. I heard the MWR can inflate balls. I will have to look into that too.
Anyway, so the first three soccer balls made it out there today! I have all three on video. As soon as the ball leaves the truck, it’s like a foul ball at Cubs game. I’ll try to get some videos uploaded soon. I’ll be honest though, I don’t like all the dissappointed faces when the victor runs off with the spoils. Everyone wants a ball. I think I will just throw to individuals or maybe very small groups. I’ll see. I’m new at this.
Thanks everyone!
So one of those pens that has four different colored inks would make a kid’s day?
Okay…I get paid next week…let me see what I can do.
Oh, and in case I haven’t said it lately, Bear, you da man.
This is one great thing about American military personnel. No matter how bad the situation on the ground may be, they can still crack jokes about it.
Thanks for the laugh, let me get back to you on flashlights.
Beanie Babies, eh? My children have a ton of those things, and frankly, I think they could do with a lot less. I might have better luck at convincing them to turn loose of them if I can say they’re going to a good cause, halfway around the world.
Will you accept gently used ones? No tags, but still in very good condition?
PayPal sent. Wish I could do more.
Best of luck in your side mission(s).
Most of the ones sent over are gently used. I think there are about a billion left in the US, and it seems that their audience is outgrowing them.
If I remember correctly, Kalhoun had a party where they packed them up.
Found it.
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=387889&highlight=beanie+babies
I’m still keeping up with emails, so keep the requests coming.
What’s the feeling on funsize Halloween candy bars? I’ve got at least 50 left. Is it okay to send them if the bag (but not the individual wrappers) are open? If it is, I’ll bother fisha for the snailmail address & round up enough additional stuff to fill a box.
I may be there in about ten. Maybe I’ll bump into you at Burger King.
Candy is great, don’t worry if it’s not in the original bag.
How about little cups of PlayDoh? Our Target is selling the halloween-themed bags cheap (the 1 oz cups don’t have anything Halloweenish on them, just the bag). Would it be obvious that it’s a toy and not food?
I’m so moved by your actions. We’ve got a lot of stuffed animals here, too, but they’re mostly bigger than Beanie Babies so it doesn’t sound like they’d meet your needs.
I was just going through my kids’ stuff yesterday and wishing I could convince them to pare down… I may have to wait until they’re in school to sneak some forgotten items out of the house.
If I may make a suggestion … my students absolutely freaking LOVE stickers. They will do pretty much ANYTHING for stickers. Markers and colored pencils are old hat to these kids, but a sticker…well, now, that’s something special. Just something you may want to tuck into a care package.
Bear_Nenno, good luck and please come home safely.
Heh. In the box out in my car, it is filled almost entirely with halloween candy and those little play-doh cups.
Fessie, don’t worry that the items might be bigger than a beanie baby. Send what you want. If Bear can’t use it on patrols, he’ll get it to someone who can hand it out to a hospital, or someone in civil affairs. Soldiers know how to be resourceful. *Everything *will find a home.
Again, please keep in mind that not all food is halal-safe, especially candy! Some, including Pop-tarts, contain gelatin. Just as you wouldn’t give a cheeseburger to a Jewish person who keeps kosher, you can’t give gelatin to someone who keeps halal (according to The Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America (IFANCA) foods containing ingredients such as gelatin, enzymes, emulsifiers, etc. are questionable (mashbooh) because the origin of these ingredients is not known.) The Muslim Consumer Group has a directory you can search to see if the foods are considered halal. Please check out what foods you are sending.