I was lucky enough to hear from a soldier in the valley a couple days ago.  The internet is back up again.  He was in a firefight, but is OK, I was relieved.  I saw videos on youtube of things happening in the region and am resigned to continue my mission-sending support however I can.

So, in that spirit, please allow me to share this with you to help us all continue to support the ones still in the valley:

I found some bargains I wanted to share with everyone.

The Dollar Tree-the expiration dates for food items are at least 2 months out, so if sent very soon, the items are still useful:
1) Ronzoni packet meals 2 for $1. They expire September 09 (some early, some late). I like them and find them much easier to pack than the canned microwave meals, but have more expensive until now.
2) non refrigerated milk boxes. $0.79 ea. They have whole, 2% and chocolate, but the whole is expired. The others expire 12/09.
3) power bars 2 for $1, expiration date 10 and 11/09.
4) 80 count baby wipes $1

Walgreens-
1)50% clearance on summer pool and outdoor toys. 4 pack of squirt guns origianlly $5 for $2.50.
2)$1 Wylers sugar free individual packaged drink mixes for bottles, lemonade, pink lemonade and red raspberry. one I went to last week had peach tea, energy, sports type drink and several other flavors.

Aldi-
1)DVD player for $29.99
2)7" battery operated digital picture frame for $24.99
3)set of 3 large space bags for 5.99

So while out shopping, I was thinking...some soldiers have the ability to cook over a camp stove and ask for boxed pasta, rice, etc. I had considered hamburger helper type dishes, then realized there were too many ingredients...well, here is my solution...

i.e. Tuna helper...the mix, the Tuna pouch and the non refrigerated milk in a ziploc bag in the box. Small tubs af margarine can be sent if necessary, though most folks put it in the fridge, it is not required...I grew up with it on the counter and never once got sick. Butter must be refrigerated, but we never refrigerated the margarine tub. The boxed Gumbo from the dollar store only requiring hot water and a can of either shrimp or crab meat in a ziploc bag. The Red beans and rice box mix from the dollar store with beef vienna sausage or peppered beef jerky (for some kick) in a ziploc bag. Spam and Mac and Cheese...the ideas just kept flowing about a "meals in a box" to help with the variety of things they are eating without too much expense, refrigeration or a ton of preperation required. All of which can be cooked in one pot or dutch oven over a camp stove.

Any thoughts or am I way off base here???

Thank you for listening.

Karen,

Regular Spam can't be sent to Islamic countries, only the Turkey Spam. You didn't specify which, so I wasn't sure ... I'm not sure where my contact is in those mountains because he's very mobile, but where ever he was last time he was able to email me, it was 110 degrees.  Margerine will be liquid at that temp.  Other than that, your list sounds good, and I might have to look into that gumbo :-)  I send a lot of the noodle & veggies sides and rice & veggies sides (check labels carefully because many contain a lot of MSG, which is very dehydrating) and the four-serving-sized mashed potato pouches (which actually serves 2), along with extra freeze dried vegetables, pouches of chicken, tuna and smoked salmon.  I also send olive oil packets (for recipes calling for butter) and individual packets of spices and condiments to go with the meals.  A recent package of assorted flavored boxed milks (2% plain, vanilla, chocolate and strawberry) with freeze dried strawberries, raspberries and blackberries was a big hit. I packed the dried fruits inside another box in the FRB so they wouldn't be crushed by the milk boxes.

Please let us know how that gumbo goes over with the guys.

Thank you so much. So many things to think about, consider and remember for the future.

You have great ideas.  I hadn't thought about the mashed potatotes or the pork in Spam.  I did think about the sausage, but forgot about the Spam.  I will definately have to get the correct kind.  Olive oil instead of butter, what a great idea. I have a Gordon's food service nearby so I will look for individual packets of things as you did.  I will have to look for MSG in the ingredients, I overlooked that as well.  I know Ramen noodles are really popular and there is lots of MSG in those.  I hesitated to send them for that reason. 

I did pick up some drid fruit as well.  Walgreens had some boxes for $1.  I picked some flavors my boys like, pineapple and tropical fruit.  I did buy some tupperware containers for packing inside the FRB to keep things from being crushed and some extra hefty slider bags for each leakable item. Someone already gave me that valuable tip already.  Folks have been very helpful and very generous with information.  This way they have extra bags/containers for storage on the other end if leakage doesn't happen.

I had already picked up tuna packets at Walmart.  I had also picked up corned beef hash, dried beef hash and a little jar of dehydrated dried beef slices and a can of corned beef.  I also picked up a packet of Sue Bee chicken and a can of turkey.

Now to get the shrimp or crabmeat (or both) for the gumbo, correct spam, olive oil and get it all to fit in boxes so it can get sent out so these things won't expire.

Karen,

I too send "Boxed dinners".  Spaghetti, sauce, and summer sausage,  and mac & cheese are always requested.  Since the mac & cheese requires butter/margarine I looked and found a suitable butter substitute.  It is called "butter buds".

Each box contains 8 packets-each packet is equivilant to 1 stick of butter. I purchased it from this website.  http://www.brooklynpremium.com/brand.html?b=3&p=1 

Hope this helps.

Maggie

*

 Belatedly, I finally finished a tribute video honoring Bob's son Rick.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mekGdJCaus

Bob, the sadness in my heart while making this is just a shadow of the pain you still feel each day....you continue to be in my prayers, my friend.

Oh my...I watched your video & sobbed through the entire thing.  I can't imagine how you got through making it without falling apart every few minutes.  But Honey, it's beautiful...I thank you for putting it together.  Talk about a labor of love.

Sandy, That was so beautiful. Thank you for sharing that with us. RIP Rick Dewater

Sandy......you MOST certainly have a God-given talent.........not only the cards for heroes that you make........But this video to pay tribute to Rick DeWater.........I too had tears in my eyes through the whole video.....esp. the Ps. 23......thank you for doing this for the DeWater family....Bob, Rick's mom, Valerie (his widow) and all his other family and friends......

Bob......I pray for you continuously.......and May the Lord ease your pain a little each day........Hold HIM close to you in all that you do.........

Love peace and many blessings.........Anne Marie

May I ask another question please?  There was a post in another forum reagrding a pillow sale at Kohls with free shipping. I asked there, but they will be going to Korengal so it is their supply sytem and it is rather overwhelmed anyway just with ammo and food.  If I direct ship from kohls with the free shipping promotion say 10 pillows will it overwhelm the supply system there?  Is it better to ship to myself and vacuum pack in space bags?  It would then have to go out in multiple FRB's to get there. 

I am working on the hand made, brightly colored pillow cases to go with them. My 6 yr old went to a class recently on how to make pillow cases and is helping me .

The sale is a one day sale of buy one get one free, then 30% off with free shipping, so I thank you for your input.

Karen-sent you an email

Jo 

thanks got it!

Branden Velasquez updated

Sandy,

I'm a little behind on catching up with the forum so I just found your video clip in Memory of Rick!  Thank you for sharing.  It was so touching and really moved me. 

Bob,

Your son is a True American Hero, who will never be forgotten. 

Updates!!!

Zach Ethier, Peter Dover, Christopher Barber, Joshua Fender, Mario Kerstell, Jordan Martell and Branden Velazquez all have updated in the last 10 days or so!!! Some nice words of thanks for the support. Martell has a fun picture! And lists of requests have been updated.