I’m going to a work-related holiday function next week and we are all being asked to bring stuff that will be donated to one of those “send stuff to the troops overseas” type charities. What do I bring? There’s a list, but it includes so many different items that it’s not possible to determine what is in high demand.
So, American military personnel, current and former, what kind of free swag would be of most use to you? Thanks.
I hear phone cards are always popular, along with baby wipes, books, and dvds.
Here’s an idea from The Red Cross
I’m not military, but a friend of mine is a reporter who was embedded with the troops in both Iraq & Afghanistan, so I’m calling that my expertise. 
One thing I can recommend is to put everything into a separate zip-lock baggies. Not only does that help in transport (if one thing breaks or leaks nothing else gets messed up) but also, those baggies are apparently very valuble to folks in desert conditions, so they can put their own stuff into them later and keep the sand off.
Little travel-size packages of mouthwash, lip balm, tissues, hand sanitizer, etc. were much appreciated, along with reading material of any kind. If you need something to just take up space, use crumpled-up crossword puzzles and comics instead of bubble wrap.
Any Solder has some good suggestions.
The sorts of things that were most appreciated while I was in the Navy were snacks, reading materiel, and small civilian luxuries. (I think you might be surprised just how popular some civilian toilet paper might prove.) Phone cards and music cards sound good, too.
The comment from purplehorseshoe about ziploc baggies sounds like a good idea, too.
I’ve never deployed but know tons of people who are/have. Good things:
*Write something! Even if you’re doing an “any soldier” package - grab a card and write a little note about anything - who you are, how’s the weather, that ridiculous thing your dog did, whatever. Anytime you’re away from home it’s nice to hear something from someone back home. Getting mail that reminds you that there’s life Back Home is like gold.
*Baby wipes and/or a roll of super-soft toilet paper
*Q-tips (great for cleaning oneself and one’s weapon)
*Hand sanitizer
*Chapstick
*Snack food. Cookies are awesome, but crumble easily. Beef jerky is hugely popular, because it’s a good protein fix, isn’t going to melt or crumble, and you can just shove a bag of it in your pocket.
*Reading material, but for god’s sake, think about the audience you’re sending them to. Your typical soldier is probably not hugely interested in the latest political screed or Jodi Picoult glurge or Good Housekeeping. Instead think things like Tom Clancy or whatever sports magazines.
*At the risk of sounding crude I’ll just say this: Most soldiers are fairly young guys and if they’re deployed they’re away from their significant other. I’m sure you can imagine some sort of…reading material and movies that they may enjoy.
Tobacco.
I’m on a pipe and cigar board that frequently sends pipes, tins of tobacco, and lots of cigars. We get great feedback from the troops - usually in the form of a group photo of everyone enjoying a relaxing smoke.
In some deployment areas these um… sorts of items are highly contraband due to illegality in the place of deployment and cause problems when mailed. Don’t include porn unless you KNOW it is not illegal where you are sending it. Maxim/SI swimsuit edition are close to the edge but usually fine.
Magazines. The kind with pictures and words, not the kind with ammunition. Think of the demographic and think about their current living situation. Guns, girls, motorcycles, 4X4 and off road, cars, etc. The most popular are Maxim, FHM, etc.
Snacks are also popular. Any kind. They won’t last long.
On one of my deployments, some random person mailed my unit a huuuuge box of protein bars, powdered creatine, and smaller sized jars of whey protein powder. That box was empty within seconds.
Find out if they are running out of CR123 lithium batteries. Supply never had enough.
Swimsuit editions of any magazine. Basically anything with hot girls. Girls with guns, girls with Harleys, anything.
Thanks for the responses, everybody.