What would you put in a care package?

[Deleted]

Well, I guess pot is out. 

I would include snacks, favorite magazines, crosswords if he does them, a good book.

[Gato]

My cousin liked DVDs and gift cards for his cell phone.

[lilac05]

I don't think it totally defeats the purpose if you ask him, as long as you think he'd tell you things he'd like. He'll still be surprised that you're planning to send one, then will still be just as excited to receive it (& maybe more excited because he'll really be looking forward to some of the items). I think it's more fun to send one completely out of the blue, but it's nice on their end to receive stuff they're really missing.

[captainobvious]

I used to send people magazine, chocolate chip cookies, and crossword books.

[bugandbibs]

Candy, gum, packaged cookies like Grandma's brand, nuts, magazines, iTunes gift cards, propel/Gatorade packets to add to water, DVDs (especially a season of a TV show), crossword/logic puzzle books, etc..

[TC]

Cheeze-its and similar boxed snacks (bags will get crushed), boxes of sees candy, good toilet paper and wet wipes, first aid ice packs and battery operated mini fans, extra soft black socks, goofy toys and activities, new music and pictures from home on SD/mini SD cards or CDs depending on their music player, any foods from home that last awhile and do well vacuum packed, Gold Bond powder and other toiletries, ground coffee, batteries, books, chewy candy, soft things (pillow cases, wash cloths, etc). Pretty much any creature comfort you can think of will be appreciated.

[lilafowler]

Dick in a box

[TC]

Also, asking about the care package does NOT defeat the purpose. Most of these guys leave with about 50 billion promises of care packages and often barely even receive a letter. Someone actually following through on a care package is really rare, he will appreciate it no matter what.

[lilafowler]

Sept 1, 2014 0:01:06 GMT -5 @licia said:

Sept 1, 2014 0:00:07 GMT -5 lilafowler said:

Dick in a box

Shipping kevin arnold is expensive. Do you think she'd fit in a flat rate?

No. She's quite curvy.

[wannabe]

Sugar cookies shaped like something cool.

[10nille]

A tip is to send it in the priority flat rate boxes, it won't get there fast, but the weight won't matter. They may give you a military rate for the box.

Snacks, rubik's cube, dvd, microwave popcorn, cookie butter, blender ball bottle and some shake mixes, new flavors of Oreos, laundry supplies,flavoring for water,heat and serve soups, and hit the Dollar store they might have some things to throw in.

If it is near a holiday some theme decorations or treats are a hit.

[TC]

Sept 1, 2014 0:07:25 GMT -5 10nille said:

A tip is to send it in the priority flat rate boxes, it won't get there fast, but the weight won't matter. They may give you a military rate for the box.

Snacks, rubik's cube, dvd, microwave popcorn, cookie butter, blender ball bottle and some shake mixes, new flavors of Oreos, laundry supplies,flavoring for water,heat and serve soups, and hit the Dollar store they might have some things to throw in.

If it is near a holiday some theme decorations or treats are a hit.

Dude if I had known about cookie butter while my H was deployed, I would have gotten a proposal the moment he got home.

[tacocat]

Aug 31, 2014 23:44:26 GMT -5 killercupcake said:

Soft toilet paper, books, magazines, old newspapers, a new blanket, some nice toiletries.

This sounds like the recipient would be making a nest, lol.


Starbucks Via coffee packets?

[Captain Serious]

My friend was in the Navy reserves, and always sent care packages. Her number one rule was nothing that could melt, because even if they were in a temperate climate, so much could be ruined during the shipping process. She was also a Girl Scout leader, so she sent lots of cookies (none with chocolate), along with books of word games and toiletries.

[SKP82]

Lingerie catalogues.

Baked goods and other snacks.

[ilovecandy]

Yes the instant drink packages my H loves them. I try to send snacks he likes. Magazines. I always ask if he needs something. It may seem weird but I ship him peanut butter and graham crackers sometimes they just get tired of the food there and it isn't always that good. Plus peanut butter if they have it is expensive most of the time. I usually try to include pictures of the family. But that probbaly woulndn't apply in your case. Books. I definitly second/third just asking him what he needs that he can't get there, or that may be super expensive there.

[calmcosmo]

My husband deploys in carriers so I've made a bazillion of these over the years.

At this point, you could do a Halloween or fall theme box. Candy, horror movies, a Stephen King book... I sometimes send silly toys that can brighten the mood of the ready room.

The walls on ships are magnetic so you can send photo magnets if you have any photos you think he'd like. My husband usually surrounds his bed with photo magnets and while he loves them from family I know he'd appreciate them from friends too.

I also agree that any show you like that you can send a whole season is great. My husband usually goes though a few series while he is away.

As for flat rate boxes and such. You are essentially mailing to an APO or FPO address that is a staging ground for the planes and helos that bring mail to the ship. I've had packages get to my husband in 10 days, and others have taken 2 months. It just depends. If they are in the middle is the ocean they don't get mail. once they are closer to shore, they can get mail drops. Port calls are also big mail receiving times.