One of my Soldiers was telling me last night his unit's morale is 'in the toilet' and he and I were trying to come up with ideas to cheer them up.  We decided on an Easter egg hunt.  To make things more interesting and to lengthen the time spent with the hunt, amongst the plastic eggs with little candies in them, I want to send plastic eggs with notes saying the person finding that egg won a prize.  There are a LOT of people in his unit, I am thinking 600 plastic eggs with maybe 20 of them notes that they won a prize.  Then after all the eggs are found, they can pick their prize from wrapped items so they won't know what they are getting til they unwrap it.

Please help me come up with ideas for prizes that won't empty my bank account - either buying them or mailing them!  They can be practical or funny or edible or drinkable or whatever you can think of that is not too big to mail and costs no more than $10 each item - the less expensive, the better!  I might spring for an iPod nano as the grand prize and a new DVD or two but mostly I want stuff the guys will like but that won't put me in the poor house!

Thanks for any ideas you come up with.  Anybody wanting to do the same thing for their contact, feel free to borrow off this post.

Lilly,
An Easter egg hunt sounds like a FUN idea!  Can you give us some info about your Soldiers?  Males?  Females?  Are they in an area where it's hard for them to get ahold of something that they want / need?  If they can't get (say) shaving gel when they need it could that be a prize?  Or, maybe send some chocolates if your contact has enough room (and willpower) to store some of the prizes before it gets too hot?

Please let me know if you would like some help with this.  I would be happy to mail some eggs and prizes.

I will send a box of prizes. Don't know what they will be but send me the name and I will help out.

Last year I wanted to do an egg hunt for a group of my guys and there is a whole thread about tiny gift ideas that could be used:   http://forum.anysoldier.com/forums/p/4449/26209.aspx#26209   

Someone suggested putting numbers in the eggs instead and then having gifts with that number wrapped up.

Another Easter thread last year also talked about the egg hunts: http://forum.anysoldier.com/forums/p/4449/26209.aspx#26209

Maybe this will give folks a few ideas for this year.  By the way, my guys loved the hunt. 

Kathy

Hi Lilly!

 This sounds fun - kind of like GySgt Deniz's Christmas project!  I'd be happy to help purchase prizes, eggs etc. if you are open to that.  If so let me know where to send them - to you or directly to your contact!

 Here are some ideas to consider:  thumb drives/memory stick, girl scout cookies, small lego kits, ball caps from sports teams or other team clothing if they are allowed, ITunes gift cards if they have reasonable access to internet, Silly Putty or gooey putty (it seems to bring out the kid in most everyone!), cigars/chew etc. if you aren't opposed to sending tobacco products, super soaker type water guns, comic books....

It's late but I'm willing to brainstorm some more if it seems like the above might be of interest to you and them!

Kristin

Thanks for everyone who has offered to help and given great suggestions.

I have the eggs and prizes covered, some friends of mine are helping me out with this project.  We decided to do one big egg of candy for each Soldier because there are over 200 in the unit, and then 20 of the eggs will also have notes in them that they won a prize.  We will send 20 prizes that they can choose from.  We decided on $10 iTune cards, the micro Leatherman multitools, DVDs of new movies, Gillette hygiene gift sets (shower gel, razor, blades, shaving cream), ans for the ladies a couple sets of Bath & Body Works stuff (shower gel, body spray, lotion) and some current magazines.

Phillis did this last year for one of her contacts in A-stan and it was a huge hit.  Of course, her contact who handed out the Easter eggs took a lot of ribbing for being the 'Easter Bunny' but he said it was worth it to see everyone's smiles and the excitement of the person who won the prize!

Lily, how completely awesome this is!!!  They are going to just LOVE it, you and your friends are wonderful.

And hats off to all you junkies who stepped right up and offered to pitch in.  You guys ROCK!!!