TIPS AND IDEAS FOR THEMED CARE PACKAGES

Pro tip:  per the Navy, the top two items requested by Sailors are cookies and beef jerky  :)

Happy Birthday!  Cookies or brownies (enough to share!!) and a can of frosting, a box of birthday candles, and gifts.   

Book Box:  books, a book light, coffee/tea, snacks.  Make a creative bookmark.  You can order a personalized mystery, classic or romance novel at www.bookbyyou.com!

Good Morning box: Poptarts, cereal bars, dehydrated fruits or fruit roll ups, applesauces (minipackets), one person cereals, oatmeal, cream of wheat, instant grits, peanut butter, jelly, bagels (with lengthy expiration date only), mini-donuts, coffee cakes (watch expiration dates), coffee, teas, Nestles' hot cocoa packets, sugar/equal/twin/Splenda packets, coffee creamer (powdered).

Hot Box: Wasabi peas, Hot tamales, Hot sauces, hot cocoa, buffalo Doritos, red hots candies, fireballs, hot spiced tea, hot and spicy peanuts, hot and spicy jerky, Cheez-It Hot & Spicy, jalepeno pistachios, Cajun cashews, Cajun flavored Pringles, Salsa sunflower seeds, cans of chili, hot sauce, taco bell sauce packets, spicy Chex mix, nacho cheese with jalapenos. ‘

Caffeinated: tea, cocoa, coffee, creamer, sugar, international coffee tins, chocolate biscotti, wafers, jolt or other caffeinated drinks, choc covered expresso beans…..

Hang in There! Stuffed animal monkey, Curious George stuff, banana chips, banana bread, banana pudding, banana flavored Chapstick, Monkeys in a barrel game, card with monkey on it. Planet of the Apes movie.

Oh What a Mess (mess hall survival kit): condiment packets of bbq sauce, mustard, sweet and sour sauces, ketchup, mayo, relish, vinegar, pepper, taco sauce, cheese in a can, grated parmesan cheese, dip packets, spices, hot sauce, grey poupon……

Movie in a Box:  new or used DVD’s, popcorn, movie candy, (empty) water bottle with packets of Gatorade

Go Fish:  fishing magazines, goldfish crackers, Swedish fish, Gummi worms, "go fish" playing cards, fisherman's hat, lip balm, sunscreen, plastic or model boat), can of chowder and could put this all in a tackle box.

Sports team box: everything about your Sailor's favorite team, magazine, newspaper, program, favorite game junk food!

Home State box (postcards from varied locations in your state (write a note on the back of each one), hometown specialty foods, hometown souvenirs, hometown team/sports items, hometown newspaper/magazines, hometown books, map, hometown photos, certificate signed by local official: the mayor or governor)

Desert Survival kit (Kleenex, Charmin ultra toilet paper, sunglasses (wrap arounds), eye wash, nasal spray, cotton swabs, lip balm, sunscreen, deodorant, stick ups, body powder, foot powder, bug repellent, crystal light or powder Gatorade drink mix, beef jerky, tuna kits, instant cup of soups, cereal bars, protein bars, snacks (non-chocolate), mints, gum, coffee, disposable cameras, etch-a-sketch, Velcro dart boards, beach ball, Frisbee, foam footballs/basketballs, jump ropes)

Gamer’s box: video games, handheld game system, batteries, carrying case, gamer’s magazine, travel games, trivia games, pack of cards.

Day at the Beach:  sunscreen, beach towel, beach snacks, flip flops, aloe vera gel, sounds of waves or Beach Boys songs

Medicine Cabinet: Ibuprofen/acetaminophen/naproxen, band-aids, Neosporin, A & D ointment, cold medicine, cold-eeze, Alka Seltzer, Rolaids, and of course Bonine for seasickness……

For the Health of it:  Health and nutrition magazines, health bars (ie. Powerbar), Granola bars, multivitamins, health and fitness equipment (ie. Jump rope, boxing gloves, sweats….), Gatorade, sports drink flavor packets, stress reduction music on flash drive….

The Write Stuff: Notebook paper, stationary, postcards, Mad libs, pens, pencils, stickers envelopes (self addressed) , address book (filled out already, of course), camera with a
note to send back once it is full or camera with extra camera cards. Journal.

Action Packed Heroes: Powerbars, squirt gun, red bull, small army figurines or GI Joe, comic books, Superman, Batman, Fantastic Four, Band of Brothers movies or any other action flick or books.

Just kidding around: silly string, bubbles, small bouncy balls, hacky sacks, jax, brain teaser toys, slap jack deck of cards, old maid cards, dominoes, legos, puzzles, Lincoln logs, pez candy and dispenser, jump rope, chalk, silly kids games (ie lawn darts, catch it velcro balls and mitt…)

Bathroom in a Box
TOILET PAPER!!! (the soft stuff), razor refills, foot powder, bars of soap, washcloths,
travel size shampoo/conditioner, toothpaste, toothbrush, bath in a bag, lotions, chapstick,
mouthwash, soap, fresh new towel and flip flops (shower shoes).  Be sure to use Ziplock bags and don't send with food, as food will pick up the aroma of soap etc.

Stress Reliever:  Stress relief book, daily inspiration, Back scratcher, bubble wrap, yo-yo's, bubbles, squeezy tension ball, flash drive with stress-relief music or meditations, book of jokes

Sloppy Hugs & Kisses:  Since we know chocolate melts over there...send a bunch of Hershey's kisses (dark chocolate or milk chocolate) and Hershey kisses (white chocolate kisses). They are bound to be "sloppy kisses!" Seal the box with lots of red lips from lipstick or from drawn on and colored in lips.

I'm Nuts About You:  Peanuts, cashews, pistachios, peanut butter cookies, any candy, cereals, or cookies with nuts in them. Don’t forget Peanut butter or Nutella.

Rock On
Pop Rocks, music on a flash drive, a painted “pet” rock.

Lots of X’s and many more O’s
Regular Oreos, peanut butter Oreos, double stuff Oreos, low fat Oreos, chocolate filled Oreos, chocolate covered Oreos, every Oreo they make! Could combine this with X box games or Xtreme games magazines.

Oh Baby, Baby: Baby powder, Book of baby names, book on becoming a dad, Sonagram picture or picture of pregnant belly, baby clothes (newborn), baby diaper, Baby magazine, baby food, places to take the baby, pictures of baby items (catalog),
Color palette for baby room decorating.

Puzzling Daze: Jigsaw puzzles, crossword puzzles, mad libs, puzzlemania magazine,
Brain storm or benders games, Rubic cube, sudoku games……

Reader's delight: Magazines geared toward construction, motorcycles, men’s health, tattoos, sports, news, military or Seabees. Books about murder, mystery, mahem, funny,
Records *guiness, odd things, x-treme sports, sports, extreme weather, military/war,
History, construction, politics, horror, sci-fi, or religious/spiritual. Limericks.

Loads of fun: Laundry soap (tablets or powder), fabric softner sheets, stain stick or shout, powdered bleach, pop up laundry hamper, basket ball net laundry hamper

Learn something new: New hobby such as kazoo and kazoo music, calligraphy and pen, learn a new language, colored sand and kit (sand art), clay, block of wood and wood burning or sculpting kit. 3 balls or hankies and juggling book.

Thanksgiving box (could include turkey spam or similar canned poultry, can of corn, carrots, cranberry sauce, stuffing and bowl, paper plates, mints, nuts, & decorations)