Hi, a newbie here, with a newbie question :) What color for sheets and blankets? Any solid color? Or does it have to be green or brown? And what type of blankets do you send out? Was there a specific blanket from a particular store that you liked or that the troops liked. I found some blankets at Walmart and they were polyester. I just want them to be worth the while to be sent and used, you know a help to the soldiers, rather than a disappointment. Thanks. I'm totally addicted to this site. I even have my 3 year old twins helping me pack boxes and drawing pics for the troops! Tracy

Tracy,

Hi and welcome.  You will surely find much satisfaction in your efforts in the future.  According to others who have children involved, they will be the better for it too.  Thanks for joining our efforts.  Spread the word - tell anyone who has an ear to listen about AS.

Color of bedding?  Any color that won't bleed (reds in particular might).  It's my opinion that the sheets in particular should have some cotton or other natural fiber content for comfort, but that's me - nothing written in stone.  I prefer a minimum of 45% cotton if they have polyester content.  I mostly get all cotton, but that's me.  I did get one set on clearance this week at Target that had some polyester in it because it had a car print.    Which brings us to the design.  We have had requests for cartoon character bedding, dark-colored sheets, and everything in between.  If they want sheets, they more than likely won't refuse anything clean and comfortable, even gently used quality linens, which some of us have sent.  Some of the outgoing units will offer their bedding to their replacements if they have life still left in them.

Blankets:  anything that would keep out the chill of the night that is washable.  They prefer not to have wool because they can't send it out to the laundry like cotton and synthetics.  Some of us have even sent decent throws that help their beds look more like home in areas where it isn't extremely cold.

The only thing I've seen people ask for not to send is white towels in the desert cause they get grossly dirty real fast.

Also I've seen people ask for cotton pillow cases cause the poly makes them perspire too much.

Like Gran said tho, they love the cartoon sheet gear:).

I tend to send darker colors or mid blues like chambray - a washed out denim color - whenever I send sheets or towels. I think they might stand up to dirt and heavy laundering methods better than light ones. I've never sent cartoon or themed ones, but can understand how they might be fun and much appreciated. So, send what you find on sale. Try to send pillows if you can, as I think they are most welcome. Often a pair of pillows can be found on sale for less than $10.

Sending blankets, sheets, and pillows is a good idea. While other items may get used up right away, they'll use bedding items every day

for months on end.  I'll have to watch for some items on sale and stock up.

Check Kohl's website for sheets, pillows and blankets. I've gotten blankets for about $10, pillows for about $3.50. I haven't sent their sheets, but they have them on sale sometimes, too. Right now they are having a sale with blankets for $12.99, but there are coupon codes that will reduce that. And free shipping  includintg APO--either a coupon code or total over some amount.

I stay away from light colors and I launder all linens before I send them. 

 I find fleece blankets and sheets to be really warm and cozy so I look for them on sale.  I don't know how well they'll hold up to military use and laundry but I hope they'll keep someone warm through the worst of the weather. 

There are new "washable" wool fabrics and blends and wool really is a good insulator.  It's the only natural fiber that still insulates when wet.  So I think wool has some real value in socks, blankets, thermals etc. 

 

How do you mail the blankets? One blanket fills a FRB-there must be a better way.

If I send big items like pillows or sheets, I get a huge box and fill it. You can put a ton of things in a regular big box and it doesn't really cost that much more to ship with regular shipping charges.  I mailed two 6 foot christmas trees last week and it was only about 19 bucks for each tree.  I also mailed a box weighing 44 pounds and that cost me 28 bucks.  The FRB price gets it to a military post office overnight.  A regular box at the lowest rate might take 6 days or so.

diggerdeb:

How do you mail the blankets? One blanket fills a FRB-there must be a better way.

Have you tried those vacuum space bags. I was able to send a lot more with those bags. They really work

Diggerdeb,

Do you have a  scale?  Many of us purchased scales on ebay from the following vendor.  He ships really fast and even sent out a package to a contact when he found out why so many of us were buying the scales. The vendor name is justpoundsandounces.

http://cgi.ebay.com/75-LB-DIGITAL-SHIPPING-POSTAL-SCALE-POSTAGE-LB-SCALES-W_W0QQitemZ230409331810QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item35a5776462

It really helps to have one if you are shipping many packages.   I have found that it is less expensive to ship bulky lightweight items via parcel post or regular priority mail, not flat rate.   I know that you know about the parcel post website to calculate postage, but I am going to post it here for newbies.

http://postcalc.usps.gov/

I hope this info helps someone.