I know we have a few soldiers who check in from time to time -- I'd be curious to know what it is that soldiers TRULY hope is in that box when they receive it!  My soon to be brother-in-law has a friend who just came back from a deployment in Iraq and said a lot of the stuff they got went unused...they just wanted socks and underwear -- that's it! 

 Do soldiers really enjoy the themed packages (I enjoy sending them, but I want to send something they'll use!)  Are holiday decorations well received or a waste of resources?  If I send newly released movies on DVD, do you end up with five copies of the same -- would older movies be better to send in that regard? 

 Help us help you -- inquiring minds want to know!  Thanks for any input...and for all that you do!

Amy

I was talking to one of my contacts who returned in January to Ft. Hood; he's in Germany now. We were discussing care packages; I had just put 6 of them into the mail the previous day. He said he had just put 10 care packages in the mail to Iraq, and it was all socks, underwear, and Calvin & Hobbes comic books. He said the next round he sent was going to be drink packets, beef jerky (not slim jims...) and pocket-sized snacks like sunflower seeds, almonds and other nuts, granola bars, dried fruit, and gum. He's a tanker; he knows what's handy when you go outside the wire. I was happy to hear that, since the six packages I'd just mailed were full of just exactly those kinds of things - tuna, healthy snacks - nuts, trail mix, dried fruit, sunflower seeds, fruit by the foot, cheese & crackers, peanut butter & crackers - drink mix packets, and some Jack Link's Beef Stick & Cheese snacks. I know you asked for "soldier input," and I'm not a soldier, but SGT Wright is and I'm passing along his ideas just days after we discussed this very subject. I hope this is helpful. (I have another soldier over there, not from anysoldier, but a friend of a friend, who very helpfully stated "I like surprises. So surprise me." Thank you, Sand Pirate Russ! I just hope he thinks it's a pleasant surprise when it gets there...**giggle**)

PatrioticLady:

He said he had just put 10 care packages in the mail to Iraq, and it was all socks, underwear, and Calvin & Hobbes comic books.

Did he happen to say if he washed the socks and underwear or if it would be better to leave them in the packages? We had a discussion once about underwear and knew what we thought, but what would they prefer?

My most recent letter from a group to whom I just sent 3 boxes of "a little bit of everything including snacks, hygiene, reading material, and such" spoke specifically of enjoying the "toys" I included (things like Frisbees, paddle balls, and such), and asked for art supplies in the next package.  Many requests out there are for practical items like sox, shorts, hygiene supplies, and "real food" (protein & such), but others are for diversions whether it be books, DVDs, toys, snacks.  Take a clue from the post your group put in...then ask!  I did.  Some are more serious minded may want books and photo frames for their families, and others need the "play time" to unwind and perhaps break the monotony.  Many are still "growing boys" "with four stomachs" and need food, food, food.  I've seen some groups who can only eat twice a day and that certainly won't keep one of those boys going!  Some are just focused and need gun cleaning equipment.  If you are really wanting to get specific, put your own check sheet together for them with things you are willing/able to send (read: can afford & willing to send) and of course, a self-addressed envelope and blank paper, for them to return a note to you. It would make it easier for everyone.  Sorry I'm not more specific but it seems each unit has slightly different "personalities" and "cultures".  Just look at all the different posts!!  Good luck.

We had a soldier return last July and said they appreciated the drink mix individual packets the best, followed by beef jerky as the next most appreciated. 

"Take a clue from the post your group put in...then ask!" 

 I've asked a few times and he never puts requests in a letter, so I figure that must be awkward for him and I've given up asking. (his selflessness is really starting to get annoying! HA!) 

Interesting post!  The comments here have helped me out - if nothing else confirmed that I am sending the right kind of 'stuff'.  I DO ask them what they need, if I can.  But have found that if I do hear back from my guys (and I send to several groups, two of them now home), they seem reluctant to personally "ask" for anything special.  They thank me profusely for what has been sent, but seldom come forward with asking for more.

These guys all seem to be very health-conscious, but if they ask for fun (junk-food type) snacks, I try to send them.  I don't think you can go wrong with healthy foods that are easily stored and portable, and protein sources like jerky and tuna.  As for undies and sox, I have sent them, but the requests are usually pretty vague, and am never quite sure if they are up to military code.

Thank Sgt Wright for his input, too   

 
 

I send one of the anysoldier postcards in each mailing, addressed to me so they can simply send it back without adding anything but have blank space to pen in a request. At the top of the message area I hand write, "Received the snack food, next time send:" and at the very bottom of the message area I write the last name of the anysoldier contact so I know where to send whatever.

Cool suggestion!  Love the "...next time send...."  Have you received them back with good requests?

Deb

With a new unit I might send one box of foodie items then the next box of personal care items so having the postcard marked with what they are commenting on helps (neither box nor postcard necessarily travels as expected, LOL). I received one card with BOOKS written on it in large print, and another asking for more "Sponge Bob" items as I had done a theme box of Sponge Bob just for laughs and it went over in a big way.

Thanks, Mom

CWP:

PatrioticLady:

He said he had just put 10 care packages in the mail to Iraq, and it was all socks, underwear, and Calvin & Hobbes comic books.

Did he happen to say if he washed the socks and underwear or if it would be better to leave them in the packages? We had a discussion once about underwear and knew what we thought, but what would they prefer?

Sorry...just got back to this post...no he didn't say. And I didn't think to ask...

Hi, Thanksmom, I sent you a PM. I just had a general question about sending packages I was wondering if you could help me with.

Thanks! =)  Ashley

I have found that many soldiers will not ask for what they need or want, but I try to take hints from thier letters. I just had a new soldier say that their living arae is so blah and that she would miss seeing the flowers bloom this year. I went out and bought some little figurines of flowers that I found at family dollar that were shelf sitters. She loved them. Then I went and found anything that was bright and colorful to send from stationary to bedding and towels. The letter I just got from her said that her room has so much more personality now. She also said they are having problems getting to the dining tent do to their mission so this time I'm sending "meals" like easy mac and mini cereal so they have something more than junk food to eat. Just a thought to try to read between the lines.

 Holly

When I have sent clothing or clothing type items I wash them first since some of them don't have great laundry services.  After you wash them, you can put them in plastic bag witha fabric softener sheet to keep them smelling fresh. 

 

Let me see if I can help out without going too far in depth...

 

Theme packages are a good idea, but unfortunately my guess is that most of what would go in them would go unused, depending upon what was put in them in particular, also based on where the soldier is located.

Decorations in my area are not allowed, because we have inspections of our living quarters, because higher deems that things are not allowed to go on walls or hang from the ceilings for fire hazards, we are not supposed to. 

 DVDs, more often than not, will always be of use, whether it is to the person you directly sent it to or their buddy, they are watched over and over.  I have not recieved two copies of any DVD yet.  It would depend upon the soldier to let you know whether newer or older movies would be better, mainly because in some areas they have shops around that sell bootleg DVDs, almost always newer ones from my experience.  You would just need to ask that soldier.

 If there are any other questions, just remember that you can ask me, but some answers may be "it just depends upon the area of the soldier and the soldier him/herself."  Hope this helped :)