After a huge collection at work and several care packages sent to both local soldiers and some adopted from AnySoldier , people in my community understand I am always looking to fill a box with deals and love. The manager at my local dollar store suggested the crossword & searchword books. (I had purchased several in the past.) What I didn't realize is the weeekly or monthly ones that don't sell, get the covers ripped off for store credits and then the book itself goes to the dumpster. Well the manager saves these books for our soldier boxes now. There are several stores with magazines that follow the same deal. I pay nothing, they save a trip to the dumpster and I can add them to the care packages. I have heard from some of "our soldiers" and they love them. The puzzle books are approx 6 inch x 9 inch and pack well into day bags or good for laying on the mess hall tables. Also our local casino gives decks of playing cards by the hundreds. They have a small hole punched through the center but it seems no one has minded in Iraq :) I know a huge portion of care packages that are sent contain the essentials such as personal care items and a few snacks but here is a quote from one of our guys "it has been written that combat is the biggest exercise in boredom ever created, it's either deathly boring or deathly exciting". So I've tried to include boredom busters. (if you can talk with the manager at your local $ store you can often be the recipent of several discontinued or clearance items before the public gets a crack at them also) Best of luck in finding those bargains !
Forever grateful to those who keep my family, my country and my flag free from harm and committed to letting them know.