8 Items to Put in Care Packages for Soldiers Overseas ...

One of the biggest hits to put in care packages for soldiers overseas are cards and pictures! Letters are good too. I always include a letter and a picture in every package I send my husband when he is overseas. Coloring pages or drawings by kids are also enjoyable for the soldier.

Any kind of candy is usually appreciated! Since soldiers are limited on what they can get overseas, candy is a big request. Send lots of variety, and then there will be more for the sharing! Many soldiers will also hand out candy to the local kids if they have the chance.

Why not fill a box with little trinket type toys? Even something that only holds your attention for a few minutes could provide entertainment in some boring down time. Fill up a box with different things like playing cards, Rubix Cubes, jacks, ping pong paddles and balls, crazy string, hand held electronic games, crossword puzzles, markers, Silly Putty, and whatever else you come across in the toy aisle!

Home baked goodies will be loved by all, I guarantee it! Choose something that doesn’t need refrigeration, such as cookies or brownies. Under bake your goods by about 1-2 minutes. Wait until the baked goods are completely cool to package them up. If they are even the slightest bit warm, condensation will cause moisture and encourage mold growth. Put the baked goods into a Ziploc baggie and seal it tightly, squeezing out all the air. Then, put the bag inside an airtight container. This will further preserve freshness and prevent the baked goods from being crushed!

Any type of non-perishable food like chips or cookies or other snacks are great to toss in a care package. Depending on where the soldier is located, some items may not be available! Try to send a few different kinds of variety, and then there is plenty to share or hoard away!

Since soldiers don’t have a lot of extra time to shop when deployed, personal care products will come in handy. Things like soap, razor heads, shaving cream, toothpaste, and deodorant are good for men, for women consider body lotion, shampoo, non-aerosol hairspray and feminine care products. Even items like socks, underwear, Band-Aids, Q-tips, cotton balls, or other such items will come of use to deployed soldiers!

One of the biggest things that soldiers deal with while overseas is being homesick. Send things reminiscent of home, such as a favorite blanket or pillow, a beloved pair of sweats, or a couple of photographs of favorite places. You could send newspaper clippings, comic books, or magazines that the soldier would enjoy. Anything to remind them of home!

Nothing says, “I care about you” like a homemade item. Baked goods and cards are a great start, but you could go a little further and make something like a scrapbook, a blanket, or a pillowcase. If you aren’t very crafty, consider having an item handmade by someone else specifically for the soldier!

These are a few of the items that are always a hit with deployed soldiers, but you can send other things too! The most important thing is that you are sending them mail. Receiving packages can really boost the morale of deployed soldiers! Anything you send will be appreciated, no matter how small it may seem. What are some of the items that YOU would send to deployed soldiers?