Non Food Items

socks for soldiers

ga_junkie:) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:52:31 GMT

Here is a great site if you are interested in sending socks to soldiers. I haven't investigated it enough yet to see how the soldiers sign up but it looks like a great company. One of my sons went on line to find a certain type of sock and came across this site. He sent some soldiers some socks....another junkie in the making!.... http://www.foxsox.com/Catalog/category.aspx?code=SLDIR

Do you get Christmas gifts for contacts/groups you regularly support?

indy500 — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:56:00 GMT

I'm fairly new to AnySoldier. I have two groups I've been supporting since August and am trying to decide what to do for them for Christmas. I've debated about sending the same things I us

Batteries are okay to send?

scmiller — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 02:33:20 GMT

For some reason, I thought that I read in these forums that they weren't alright to send. I searched and came across a few threads that discussed the types that most soldiers wanted.

Can someone help clarify this for me? Thanks!

Christmas decorations

twinsinjuly — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 04:57:59 GMT

Hi I was looking at one of the soldiers pages that has been requested a lot. I always wonder if they write more or post more often to get requested more. Anyway one of the soldiers mentioned that Christmas decorations should be winter decorations, snowflakes, snowman that type of thing. Is this across the board? A safe way to go? Thoughts? I want them to be able to use the things I send, so I want to do the right thing. Thanks, Tracy

What color for sheets and blankets? And where did you find the blankets?

twinsinjuly — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 04:16:34 GMT

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

Sending Books

shineyourhineysoap — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 13:15:34 GMT

Just to let everyone know/reminder, you can ship books to the troops via Media Mail, and it is fairly inexpensive. I shipped over a doz paperbacks and it was less than $5. Just make sure you're not using the priority boxes. I found almost 200 books at a yardsale for $25 and they looked brand new, had only been read once. Also I get books from paperbackswap, so a DM is looking for a specific book, or author, I can get it free, or almost free. Sometimes the PO will say you can send to APOs via media mail, but insist on it, they can't not let you.

Pens

Sarah H — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:59:12 GMT

I just found this on a post today by Sgt Joshua J. Winans, who is requesting pens, and thought it was quite interesting: "AFGHAN PEOPLE REALLY LOVE PENS SINCE THEY ARE BECOMING MORE EDUCATED THEY ARE ABLE TO WRITE SO THEY LIKE TO HAVE THEM." So I will be keeping my eye open for sales on pens and including them with shipments to soldiers asking for things to give to local people.

Detergent for washing clothes~liquid or powder?

twinsinjuly — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 23:02:57 GMT

Hi I've noticed soldiers asking for detergent for washing their clothes and since they don't say, do I send liquid or powder? And then I was thinking maybe of going to the laundry mat and getting the really small sizes. Thoughts, suggestions? Thanks Tracy

Some questions from a newbie...

jennyd — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:56:25 GMT

Hello everyone,

I must say this site is very addicting! I have discovered AS only a few short days ago. I'll tell you real quick a little about myself or better yet the group i represent in case it might better help you understand my questions...

I am the assistant to the children's pastor at my church, and we have decided to start an outreach ministry with our children. We are moving into the new year with teaching them the armor of God and how to be Soldiers for Christ. Okay...so we thought...how cool would it be to begin our ministry with supporting our soldiers with love and care packages.

I have read over the site here...and understand the things you shouldn't and/or can't send...

My questions are to those of you that have a "few" care packages sent...lol...like Gran...and the many others of you.

Okay...so here goes.

Let's say i pick a contact that has 35 males...

Do you package each bottle of shampoo in its own baggie... and so forth?

Do you package each soldiers items in a bigger baggie or do you just let the contact hand them out as individual items?

Do you send more than one "travel size" item per soldier...(I'm thinking the shampoo is sooooo small)?

I know its about the heart....and not to fret over it all...

Now..I see that some of you send at least once a week....maybe even more....

Our group may not be able to do that....writing letters we can do more often than packages...but the children's pastor was thnking we send a package every 2 to 3 months....our hearts want to do more...but that is all we can handle (for now anyway).

I see some asking for movies...what are your suggestions on this...titles and genre?

Books...what have you sent or would send?

Okay...so that is a few of my questions...only a couple more to go...

Should i write the contact person first...kind of a "hello" and see if they have any further details especially if they didn't list much on here? Let them know who we are....maybe get a list of birthdays...

I love the ideas i have found on here...especially the toy ideas...i know the kids will LOVE that part...

Also...i would like to ask without offending....would a soldier be offended by getting a letter written with christian content...i'm not saying over the top stuff...but its hard not to write with some christian content. Does this make sense? I just want to make sure we are raising morale and not tearing someone's down. Also, would it be rude to ask the contact person about this...or if they have an idea who would like to receive christian materials? Don't want to get in trouble for sending unwanted material.

Okay....whew...hope i made it through that without upseting anyone....

I do plan on sending a camera and envelope so we can get pics of the soldiers....i know the kids would love to see the faces of those they'll be loving on...and if parent approved...we'll send a group pic of us.

Oh...one last thing...i saw on-line where someone took a white sheet and made a flag...the red lines where made with kids handprints in red. It was adorable...is that something where we could send one to the whole group...or should we make miniture ones with fingerprints. I wanted to attach something about how they have put an unfading fingerprint on this country...and it is forever change because of their service and sacrifice....and something about how they have touched our hearts and left a print that we will forever be grateful for....

I know we are going to be doing christmas cards as the first thing we send...it will be sent with snacks.

If you have any suggestions about food items....please share...I suppose my questions for food are somewhat the same.

Blessings,

JennyD.

Fun Stuff

peachycor — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 17:28:05 GMT

Anyone have any new ideas for fun things? We send water balls/bombs in summer and yoyos in winter as well as Koosh balls and magic card tricks. They're just kids at heart and it seems to give them an outlet. What else do you send?

hand warmers & blankets $$

amyy — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 13:18:01 GMT

I was just wondering where to get the best deal on these? Also do you know anyone who will ship them direct? I am going to check Sam's today for the hand warmers. I find it easier to send magazines and food but it sounds like this is what is really needed by many. Thanks so much for your help.

Snuff and AnySoldier.com donations

blix — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 17:20:00 GMT

Just heard from a contact that delivers to COP's and FOB's in Afghanistan.

He said ,"every time I talk to soldiers out there snuff is what they want. Additionally, junk food. They don't have access to the PX so chips, cookies, tuna snack packs candy"

I promised him that I would send snuff (Copenhagen is the brand of choice) in every package until the end of his deployment (He does not use snuff...it is for those in the remote areas.)

*************************************************************************************************************************************************

The other thing that I will be doing, and wanted to ask others to do also, is to DONATE TO ANY SOLDIER.COM. This site will end if donations do not come in !!!!!! I will cut back on the content of my packages and MAKE A DONATION TO ANY SOLDIER.COM. Times are VERY tight for me also....but every dollar donated counts !

************************************************************************************************************************************************

Boot Socks

babs123 — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 12:23:15 GMT

I keep seeing postings from soldiers asking for boot socks. As they are asking specifically for "boot" socks I am assuming that they are not anything that can be picked up in my local Wally World. Where do you find them? Online? With my guys pounding the dirt everyday I want to get them something that is comfortable but won't wear out too quickly.

Has anyone sent any boot socks recently that can point me in the right direction?

Will take any and all suggestions. Thanks in advance.

babs

Playing Cards

georgeygirl — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 19:41:43 GMT

I live in Indian Country -- Oklahoma -- and as such, have more than my fair share of casinos around. Knowing that the casinos sell their "gently used" playing cards for around 25-50 cents a deck, I went into the casino this morning, money in hand, to buy several decks of cards for my guys. The lady at the Players Club desk asked me why I wanted so many decks of cards (I had asked for 40). When I told her, she promptly picked up the phone, called her manager and told the manager that I was needing decks of cards to send overseas. They gave me 100+ decks! God Bless them!!

So, if you live near a casino, give it a try!

SENDING DVD's

Teresa Adkins — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:57:55 GMT

Did anyone read a contact's page that said if you are sending dvd's to write on the customs page underwear or something like that because before it reaches them, some people see dvd's written on the customs page and remove the dvd's and tape it back up and send it on out?

Teresa

CRAYONS

Leanna — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 03:30:37 GMT

I apologize if this has been posted, but I can't find it. Is it okay to send crayons (for the local kids) in the Afghani heat? I assume they don't melt, but wondered if anyone has experience with them.

helmet liners and cool ties

babs123 — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:27:56 GMT

I finally have fabric that is 100% cotton and that I'm confident will be OK for the cool ties and helmet liners that I intend to make starting ..... today.

My question is this: has anyone who has made or sent the cool ties and helmet liners heard back from their solider's that these things actually work? I have purchased them in the past for myself and have not been impressed with them. Of course I wasn't wearing them in 100 + degree heat either. L.O.L.

When I was wearing them at the local race car track a few years ago to try and stay cool in the sunshine, they just got warm and then felt slimy against the skin. Yuck!

AAA Batteries 100 for $8.99

Artemis — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 12:05:01 GMT

Graveyard Mall.com has a GREAT DEAL on 100 AAA batteries - 100 for $8.99. The shipping is approximately $5.99. Unfortunately, they don't ship to APO/FPO. These are new batteries and will ship out beginning May 1. Any one looking for batteries may jump on this one.

http://www.graveyardmall.com/raaaamaplalb.html

I check www.slickdeals.net everyday. You never know what you may find!

shower shoes/microwave

amelia — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 03:24:24 GMT

Hello! I recently joined this site and have already sent out two letters. I have three flat rate boxes on my kitchen table to mail Monday. I have a couple questions. If they say they would like "shower shoes", are these flip flops? Also, if they dont have a microwave, could I send them a small microwave? A friend has a new one, never opened, still in the box that I thought about sending.

Thanks!

Amelia

Phone cards and/or other gift cards

jerseygrrl — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 02:34:44 GMT

Have people here sent phone cards and gift cards?

I have a couple questions.

First, which stores do you think are good to send gift cards from? I understand that some of the troops use them to order things online.

Second, since we have to list everything on a customs form I was wondering if theft is a problem with phone cards and gift cards?

Do you have to fill out a customs form for envelopes too, or just boxes?

Thank you.

What brand of soap to wash clothes with at the FOB

mrsmarquis — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 03:43:27 GMT

They wash their own clothes but their fridge doesn't work most of the time, so I am in doubt that they have an electric washing machine. What type of laundry soap have you sent that would do a really good job and would be easy to mail. Thanks.

types of books

JLYates — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 15:24:35 GMT

I am going through my books and am going to a used book store soon to get books to add to boxes.

I was wondering, are there certain types I can't send? I love to read paranormal romance so I was going to send some of them, a couple that are the whole series. Some, however, are very erotic. Would that be allowed, or should I look for something tamer? Some are humorus, some strickly romance but all of them have sexy guys and gals as hero/heriones. I am also going to pick up murder mysteries, thrillers, humor and westerns.

If I am allowed to send the ones that sizzle, I have a series by C. Feehan, Ghostwalkers. It deals with military guys who volunteer for what they thought as a special type of training, they have some form of psychic abilities (it is a book, fiction). But of course he is a "mad scientist" and does a lot of genetic manipulation with the guys. They escape, but due to their patriotism they are an elite group who use their abilities to help (such as rescue pow's). Although they use them in the states a lot to help people. And of course there are bad guys after them. You can check them out at Amazon.com under Christine Feehan's name, She uses the word Game in all of the books of this series (Shadow Game and Mind Game are a couple of them). Would that one be okay to send? I have several series, from 4 to 6 book in each series that I can send, along with other non-pnr.

I know we can't send mags that are naughty, LOL, such as Playboy; so now I am wondering, are these books also not allowed?

Janette

Protective types sunscreen

Gran — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 22:28:00 GMT

Recently, I am hearing from the doctors that to have protection from the sun, sunscreen must have blockers for both UVA and UVB rays. Can someone tell me what this kind of sunscreen is called? I have heard a term for it, but my memory isn't serving me to recall what to look for. They are saying that the most damaging rays aren't being blocked by the typical sunscreen. Anyone in the know?

what size batteries are needed?

JLYates — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 15:50:11 GMT

I saw the post about AAA batteries. I have bought a large package of AA and of C batteries at Sams. Hubby and I were wondering, do they need D batteries for flashlights, do they need flashlights and if so what size? Are any other type of batteries needed, hearing aid size, other?

Janette

Boxers vs. Briefs?

Amy937 — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 17:21:46 GMT

So who would have thought this would cause such a dilemma? I hear its greatly needed over there; though I must admit that shopping for someone else's underwear seems a little odd...

What are safe sizes to send? Boxers or briefs?