ACOT Message Board

Hi all! My cousin Rob is in the military and he is in Iraq. I just got some of those free boxes at the post office.. Can anyone tell me/give me some ideas on what to put in his box? I'm going to ask his wife Donielle.. I know lip balm/bug spray/baby wipes/ketchup packets etc.. are good to send.. Any ideas would be very appreciated. Thanks!

Hi Ally..My husband is in Iraq right now too. The things that I try to send him are baby wipes, q-tips, canned tuna, and of course a can opener..top ramen, granola bars, fruit snacks. Anything in a bag really food wise. I send him shampoo and razors shaving cream. Even a little mirror. Toilet paper. Socks. sunglasses..they break so easily over there. chapstick. Sunscreen. There is a ton of things you can send him. Books also. Magazines. Here are just a few things...Hope this helps..Bekah

When I was in Iraq I loved getting chapstick, games, candy, any kind of food!!!! Sunglasses would be good too. And games for down time. Maybe a disposable camera?

Wow you were in the military Kbeachy? That's awesome!

I participating in a blog hop over Memorial Day, called Cards for Heroes. I understand that folks overseas don't have access to get the nice cards that we take for granted at the grocery store or card shop. So, sending a birthday or get well or any kind of card to loved ones at home is tough; even though all mail coming back to the states does not cost them any postage. Here is the link with info on what is acceptable. After the blog hop, I made a committment to send them some cards from my stash.


http://cardsforheroes.org/send-handmade-cards/

decks of playing cards tooth paste & brushes, candy in bags disposable cameras, phone cards

Gum, mints, trail mix. The new breakfast trail mix from Emerald nuts is wonderful. Sweet and salty all in one.

Sunblock, snacks, athletes foot cream, Talcum powder, bug spray, chapstick, gum, neosporin, toothbrushes and toothpaste, other toiletries (that is what i remember sending my cousins husband when he was in Iraq)

Books and magazines are good to send, too. The can pass them around and share when they are finished. I would buy my hubby the $5 or $10 dollar movies at walmart and mail those to him on his first deployment. The single drink packs were a hit with him. Phone cards are another good thing to send. I told my hubby he needed to go through Wal-Mart and make a list of things he'd like me to send him so I didn't have to wrack my brain every 2 weeks trying to pack a care package to him!

• Hope this helps I have a better one that I will post when I remember what folder it is in

Irene

• 
  Food Items Personal Hygiene
  Beef jerky Sunscreen
  Vienna sausage Lip balm
  Canned ham Insect repellent towlettes
  Packages of noodles (not in cups) Hand sanitizer
  15 bean soup Petroleum jelly
  Macaroni and cheese mix Soap
  Spaghetti and sauce Baby powder
  Peanut butter Deodorant
  Mixed nuts Razors
  Peanut butter and crackers Toothpaste and toothbrush
  Pudding cups Foot Powder
  Pre-sweetened drink mixes
  
  Hard candy
  Cleaning Supplies
  
• Disinfectant Spray
  Disinfectant Wipes
  Laundry Detergent
  Fabric Softener
  Fabric Freshener Spray
  Miscellaneous
  Good writing pens
  Notebooks
  Envelopes
  Gum

I got my friend's kids (daughter and SIL are both in Afghanistan) some neck coolers.

These are tubes with little pellets in them that they can soak in water and wrap around their necks.

I'm going to make a bunch of these when I get to my new house and can pull out my sewing machine.

I'm also making helmet liners. These are knitted from a soft wool (acrylic will melt in an 'incident')

The directions for both are available on the web.




http://www.citizensam.org/

Just remember, dont send anything with pork product in it. I send with an organization and we are told, no pork jerky, no candy made of gellitan because it is pork based. Just fyi. Also, send movies on DVD, cds, I have heard water balloons are good too. Thanks for your families service!