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. 

We are fortunate enough to have a independentally owned store dedicated to the running/jogging enthusiast in our area and that is where I look for insulated socks on sale. 

For hand warmers I usually try to buy these at Outdoor World or a Bass Pro Shops store if in stock.  You can also buy t them on line http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/SearchResults?searchOption=products&hvarSearchString=hand+warmers&storeId=10151&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&CMID=TOP_SEARCH_GO&x=15&y=9

For blankets, I have been sending the over sized fleece blankets from Target and have been told they hold up well in the laundry.

Best,

 

 

 

Hi amyy,

Here are some previous threads about both warmers and blankets/throws:

Throws and Hand Warmers

Hand-foot warmers - BOGO

Winter Items

I found these threads by doing a search for the word "warmer". There's lots of good info in these, although note that some of the sale prices may no longer be available.

 

I bought hand warmers from Amazon-- not bad price and then found them at BJs for just as good.. my unit loved them.. I believe it was the Hot Hands brand.

For blankets, those can be expensive, but I found fleece ones at Wal MArt and will be sending those out next week to someone (I already gave my regular unit some-- all my other units are going home soon or are at home) -- Target has just begun to mark down their electirc blankets and huge fleece blankets here, but still a bit too hight for me to afford more than one.. so I am going to keep checking.. (can always save for next year:)  )

 Good luck and you are right.. these are needed.. especially those who are out on missions.. they get really cold but if nothing else, at night, they are cold.

 

go to www.amazon.com in the search box type Heat Factory.  There are tons of choices for hand and toe warmers at good prices here.  The one I use in the MN winters and send to to the troops is 10 hr hand and body warmer.  It comes as a two pack about 2 x 3 " each and fits nicely in a glove or the toe of a boot without feeling bulky.

  Bass Pro and many other outlets also carries this brand.

I really appreciate all the suggestions.  Thanks for your time.

If you have a Costco nearby they have them in boxes of 80, they have the best prices around here.

We sent Christmas stuff (a ton of it) to 250 Marines and it seems out of all of it, the handwarmers were the biggest hit.  They all got them in their stockings plus we sent lots in the bulk boxes to pass around too.   They fly helios and planes and just about freeze up there with the gunners openings, etc. and really appreciated them.  Needless to say I have sent many more boxes of them since.

WalMart, Target and Sam's had/having good deals on fleece blankets.  Just sent a bunch to AK.  Had to "fight off" a few of our parishioners because we are also having a blanket and linens drive for the local orphanage.  You know I also bought for the kids   Hey, I just keep telling my kids I'm spending their inheritance on a good cause. They just laugh and tell me to go for it.  The littlest grandkids keep throwing stuff into the boxes when I'm not looking.  Hope those warriors don't mind NASCAR matchbox cars.  Joyce

Mr. Gran picked up a box of foot warmers at WalMart off their clearance shelf this morning, and I was wondering when those of you who have sent to A'stan for a while usually start shipping them.  I don't want to wait until they actually need them to ship, but don't want them to get in the way while it is warm either.  Would the end of September be a good time to start shipping them in order to assure they have them for the cold nights?  We haven't been sending to A'stan very long.

There have been soldiers asking for Hot Hands just recently on the web site. I think they want to stock up early. If they are in the mountains up 10,000 plus feet it could get quite cold in September. My contacts are in very remote areas in Afghanistan. They aren't very good about writing but I keep sending and no packages come back. It is pretty wild over right now and I think they are very busy. I will start sending warmers in September.

regarding blankets and towels and even sheets... I have seen requests for all of these

I was wondering if it's okay to send used if they are clean and in good shape.  I have a couple thrift stores near me and I could better afford to send blankets and towels if I can pick them up used.  I would never send anything tattered or stained.  Would only choose and send something if I would be willing to use it myself.   As a matter of fact, I have used the thrift stores for myself. 

Any thoughts?  I wouldn't want to insult anyone on the receiving end.

My feeling is that if you or your family would use them then they would too. I have sent used clean sheets that my group hung to use as room dividers and towels that were in good shape. I would definately launder before sending. I know of a contact in Afghanistan who is using a towel he brought as a blanket cause there is no where to get one where he is

Thank you for your thoughts and opinion.

I appreciate being able to use all of you as a kind of sounding board and sanity check :)

We have found some pillowcases in thrift stores that were a lot better quality than we would have been able to afford new, and found some towels at an estate sale / yard sale that were the same.  I feel like having any good quality, gently used items is so much better than having none at all.  I doubt if there are any sanitary compromises involved as long as they are laundered well.  I would even fell better about hanging them in the sun to "sanitize" them with ozone before laundering if that is a reasonable thing to do in your situation.  Our weather has been more like Seattle's recently than Little Rock's normal weather, so that isn't an option right now.

Thank you for the feedback.

I will feel better about sending them now (to contacts that request bedding)