| |
|
Care packages are a much wanted thing, and you can get these to our
military via the Red Cross.
Things that go well in a military care package:
Sunscreen
Hard candy (individually wrapped)
Cookies, chips, microwave popcorn (nothing homemade)
Sweetened Kool Aid powder, Gatorade powder
Jigsaw puzzles, card games, board games
Footballs, Frisbees
Paperback books (go for the new ones, not the really old ones; best sellers,
scifi, mystery, action, etc.)
baby wipes/pre-moistened hand towelettes
Things you should not put in a care package:
Anything that has photos showing skin—if it can't
be covered by a t-shirt and long pants, it's not something
they can have. This includes muscle magazines, fitness magazines, cards,
and photos
pork products
chocolate (this time of year it'll melt)
Religious materials; this includes greeting cards that have bible quotes on
or in them
Letters (unless written by a child)
You can take a care
package (leave the box unsealed) to your local Red Cross, along
with appropriate postage (for a 18 x 12 x 10 in
box, that's about $15.00) and they'll
get it to deployed service members.
The Rev. Dwight L. Neglia, Rector
St Agnes, Little Falls
ADVICE FROM THE MFF'S (Military Families and Friends)
If you are thinking of sending packages to the troops here is
some advice from Military Moms.
Boxes no larger than a shoebox are delivered faster than big or
heavy boxes.
If you want to send the troops letters do not send them in the
box, send them separately, they will arrive faster.
Wrap everything in separate zip-lock bags. When it gets crushed
you will confine the crumbs.
You might want to send some things in plastic containers, they
will be able to keep the opened food items longer.
Use a return address-write clearly
Here is a list of things you might send:
Items needed:
chewing gum (alternative to tooth brushing), blistex, eye wetting
drops, mouth wash, tooth brushes, sunscreen toothpaste, hand
and body lotion, foot powder, baby wipes, q-tips.
Food:
Breakfast bars, fruit cups, fruit roll-ups, small cereal boxes
(like fruity pebbles), hard candy, kool-aid packs, granola bars,
small bags chips, cheez-its, gold fish, gatorade, twizzlers,
beef jerky, tastee or hostess cakes, peanut butter cracker packs,
pouch drinks, fruit in pop top cans, power bars.
Recreation:
Camera, home-town newspaper, paperback books, pens, paper, envelopes
(don't need stamps it's free for them), photographs, hand-held
games (batteries then), magazines, crossword puzzles, jig saw puzzles
(500 pieces), playing cards. If you send phone cards make sure
they can be used in that area of the world, otherwise the military
suggests the soldiers buy them there.
Supplied by
The Rev. Pamela Bakal, Rector
Grace Church, Nutley
|
