A thought that might have been thunk before by all you smart junkies....are there any plastic tub containers that fit perfectly inside a large FRB? ....tuck everything inside tight-sealing containers they can use for food storage. At least for the remote places....keep them vermin at bay... :)

  I've been pondering that and looking for something that size----but haven't found any brands that fit particularly well. Has anyone researched that before?

I can send a box of cooking utensils and another box of some basic spices ( garlic powder, seasoning salt, dehydrated onion, chili powder, etc) Just need to know the best place to send a couple of boxes of this stuff. I have some stuff for Salinas' group, but would like to send a couple more to some place with need. Although others might want to send more of the spices and stuff depending on how many soldiers we are talking about.

Donna (Mom of PFC Garrett Hall)

BobConnolly Hello!

Excellent ideas for a great start! I did see that storage and vermin were a problem at some locations and that containers would be helpful.

Last year a soldier shipped a black plastic foot locker to me from Iraq with a padalock on it. It had an address/customs on it like a package. It made the trip just fine.

Some thing like that would make a great shipping container and then could be used for storage once it got there. You could tape it and put a combo padalock on it and send them the combo by email.

You also could send much smaller containers like small to large coolers so that they could be spread between areas, if space is a problem. Just fill them with something light to make it worth while. 

Mouse traps will probably be needed if they store food.

Blessings, door

Hi Everyone!

It's been a while since I've posted, but I do get to read all your posts everyday, and I just wanted to say thank you to you all for your support. 

My son is at Vegas.  He told me they have a microwave, but until they have a new generator it won't work very long.  So, I'm not sure sending all these appliances is going to help them out in the food area at this time.  I've sent my son several different foods that can be put into their pockets to take along when they go out on patrol or missions.  They really like that kind of food at Vegas.  I've sent small bags of beef jerky, boxes of raisins, crunchy oatmeal bars, Slim Jim beef sticks, Country Time Lemonade drink mix singles, Propel Water Beverage drink mix singles, Power Bars (Vanilla & Peanut Butter), Trail Mix, Sugarless gum, Jolly Rancher hard candy, Dum Dum pops, Twizzlers, SPAM 100% White Turkey, Variety pk. Crackers, etc...just anything small that can last long and fit into their pockets.  I've also sent some cans of Dinty Moore Beef Stew and the guys just loved them, so I am going to send lots more. 

Also, the guys are getting really bored on their downtime, so I suggest sending games, cards, puzzles, books, etc.  I've sent a checkers set, some Word Finds, Crossword puzzles, and a deck of cards, but I am sure they could use more.

Again, I want to thank you for your support of our boys over in the Korengal.  

Tamra 

Hi it's me again,

Just wanted to put something out there....I've sent my son 6 care packages, 4 mailed out Aug 18/19, and 2 just the other day, but he has only received one package about 1 1/2 weeks ago.  I am wondering that if everyone is sending so many packages from AnySoldier.com maybe my packages are getting bumped and my son isn't receiving them because there are too many packages?  Don't get me wrong I love all the support coming from all of you, I just want my son to receive my packages too!  So I have decided, and maybe other family members might want to do the same, I am going to put "FROM MOM" in big letters on all my boxes, and maybe those that deliver the mail will see that those packages get delivered to their son's.

Wish me luck!

Tamra

Hi Tamra, great to see you here! I'm glad your son has been able to keep in touch and let you know he's safe! We keep them in our prayers with ya!

As far as the mail, I'm getting about the same recvd rate. About 1 for 3 in a month. Most all within 5 weeks tho. While I would love to think we had that kind of impact, I think all the mail is struggling out there, not for volume but because no one wants to fly it out, pesky bad guys shoot at the choppers.

Are you sending large boxes? My theory is smaller boxes may get mercifully tossed onto a truck or inside a helicopter going out there and not have to wait for the whole lot to go. But all mail, small/big/lots/little makes it when they strap one of those pallets onto the bottom of a bird. I do think a big MOM on the box would get it prioritized!! That's a terrific idea

Hug your son for us! And my gratitude to you both.. Shelly

I checked at Wal-mart today and I found the Presto Kitchen Kettle.  It is an electric 6 qt. pot that can steam, boil, roast and fry.  It has a thermostat that goes from warm to 375.  It comes with a fryer/steamer basket and a vented lid.  It was $25.00  It could also be used as a slow cooker since it has the thermostat.  I think the crock-pots are 200 degrees.

The rice cooker that Bob was talking about might be more versatile, but it might not have as large a capacity.

Walmart also has a sealed two burner tray as opposed to those that have the coils.  It is made by GE and was heavy and I am thinking a solid piece of equipment. I believe it was $25-$30.   This might be better somewhere there is more room.  I don't know but just throwing the info out there.

Vicki
 

The baby wipes warmers were popular last year.  The guys didn't have to take "cold showers".  They run around $20-$25.

Vicki 

Hi, Tamra.

I strongly suggest you insure ALL your packages to your son.  I have a friend serving in A-stan, I mail him a care package once a week and he has gotten every single one.  Another friend has mailed him 2, his wife has mailed him a couple also, NOT insured and he didn't get theirs.

It seems there is a lot more of a problem with the mail in A-stan than in Iraq.  And it seems like insuring really helps.   It's only a couple dollars more, so if you can afford it, please consider doing it.

Also, if you are sending him 'desirable' items like DVDs, CDs, boots - anything of interest to a thief - try writing something obscure on the customs form, like for DVDs and CDs write 'digitized media' - stuff like that.

Please tell your son I said THANK YOU a million times!  It still boggles my mind that our military is all volunteer.  I am so proud of them, I could bust, even though I am not their real mom!

God bless you both,

Lilly

Hello everyone,

I have my son Chris at home with me for a bit of R & R and he has been reading these posts with me.  He is at Vegas as well. They do have a microwave but as Tamra says the generator they have right now does not support it very well and it keeps burning it out. They are due to get a new generator, but who knows when that will happen. Also when he left they didn't have a big freezer anymore (apparently it was wounded).  There are no truck deliveries, it is all by heliocoptor sling loads.  They have had only two deliveries since he has been there.  The heliocoptors don't like to fly in their area, due to.....

He thinks all the ideas are great, and as soon as "cooky" gets back he will be able to figure out how to cook all the food, if you send recipie cards with the foods you send that will help.  Remember these are just young men and have probably just been fed before by mom or the army.

Boredom is definately an issue, all the suggestion from Tamra are great. Even some of those handheld cheap games are great - don't forget to send batteries.

I have sent all your regards to Chris and he totally apprecitates what you do.

Tamra, what is your son's first name again?

I sent you a private message-

Thank YOU Chris for your sacrifices and service!

Joanne

I bought two baby wipe warmers at a charity thrift shop for about $2.00 a piece.  I sent one and have one left that I will be sending out.  Also, as I said before, I received a box back that I sent to Jonathan Kane.  It said "insufficient address" and I addressed it exactly like I did the other three boxes I sent him.  I also received around 50 Clif Bars (energy bars) from a promotion that the company I work for (Edward Jones) had left.  I wasn't too shy to ask for them.  I am getting ready to send them to Afghanistan, but I tried one and I wasn't crazy  about it.

Teresa

I have heard pros and cons on Clif Bars.  Personally I like them and I can eat wherever and whenever I want.  They are a heavy bar as opposed to say a Rice Crispie Treat.  My 3-year old granddaughter likes the Kids Zone Clif bars and she is pretty picky, but then again she isn't 19. 

Some like them, some don't.  I would send them anyway because it is a portable healthy snack and maybe if they have nothing else to tote around they will develop a taste for them.

Vicki 

Teresa,

Good idea about looking at the thrift stores for the warmers.  We could buy 10 for what it cost for one new one.

I seriously think we should be sending surge protectors for all the electrical appliances since so much is getting fried.  It seems like that would protect everything more.

VickiV 

Hi Lilly,

Have you insured everything that you have sent to A-stan no matter which area it went to?  Does it take longer to get it to them?

I remember a long time ago that someone said something about the person would have to personally go to the post office to sign for the insured package.  I don't remember if it was a contact or someone from AS support or a member on the forum.  Surely this can't be the case in the big "A", can it?  I would like to hear more about this if you have more information.

Thanks,
VickiV