Care Package Ideas!

I was just hoping to create a "piece of home" for her. We used to eat the soft PBJ sandwiches when she was young. But the Ritz might make a good substitute. She does like them. Thanks for the suggestion.
I send care packages to Diego Garcia, a very small island in the Indian Ocean.

Holy moly, I just looked at it on Google Earth, a tiny dot indeed! I have a batch of books that need sending, I was going to send them off to the base on Guam. Would DG be a good place?

Marcy, Funny you would ask that. I have a box of books ready to send there right now. But, there was a 4" x 4" space left in the box so I have to fill it with some goodies for my daughter. LOL
When I asked her before I put the box together and she said she would give some to the RP to make available on her ship and put some in the island library. So, I'm sure they would appreciate more books. It's a very small island and there is not a lot of entertainment options there.
p.s... my name is Marci too 8)

I thought I remembered seeing the Christmas mailing deadlines on here and now I can't find them. Does anyone have the link? Also, anyone have an idea regarding how long it takes for a package to get to Kuwait? We thought my brother-in-law was headed to Afganistan, but instead he is headed to Kuwait. We want to send something for Thanksgiving, but not sure when we need to get it out by.

Thanks!

Here you go - not a link but a .pdf you can print. The Naval Supply Systems Command's (NAVSUP) Postal Policy Division mail-by dates for pre-Dec. 25 delivery of holiday cards, letters and packages ~NAVSUP pre-12:25:10 delivery mail-by dates.pdf

Angie, the form is attached to the box when you mail it, so I imagine it can be viewed en route by whoever handles it. You can generalize and use terms like snacks, games, books, DVDs, personal hygiene items, and estimate the value for each category. Does that help?

I sent birthday cakes in a jar and they were a big hit. Pumpkin bread is next on the list. What are some things others have sent this way? I could use more ideas.

Maussie, I'm taping up the media box now! If you pm me I will send to her, otherwise will use Diego Garcia ddress at MAS.

Join us in the Molly's adopt a sailor group! We know our kids are getting care packages from their moms... but so many (often 1/3 of a ship) do not get any support from home! The Molly moms adopt a different deployed group every month to send letters and packages to!! Is wonderful fun and the notes we get back are just awesome!!

Not to mention that the group is super-active on here (800+ members, someone's always posting) and just plain fun! http://www.navyformoms.com/group/mollysadoptasailorproject

Marcy, did you get my friend request? I sent a message regarding the books with it.

I did. I had to get those boxes out of here so sent them to the hospital at Kandahar, but will send the next batch to DG and will get the address from you :)

Okay, thanks. Just checking.

Welcome Judy! Glad you found us :)

Hello everyone! I used this site so much when my daughter was in boot. Now she is getting ready to deploy. I just want to say thank you ahead of time for being so supportive. If it wasn't for ladies like you, I would have never made or understood how everything works. Hugs to you all!

Years ago I started giving the 12 days of Christmas to my husband... Seems like Christmas day is all about the kids and rushing to get from church to someones house... so we start early... every day there is a small gift leading up to the big gift on Christmas morning. He never knew where he would find his little gift (his desk at work, his pillow at bedtime, the front seat of his truck)...


I was thinking you could do the same thing... buy small gifts that could be opened every day leading up to the big day! Of course all the gifts would have to be sent together... and there is no guarantee that our sailors would not open every one of them together... but the thought is there!

I like that idea! I did ask my daughter last night if she thought there would be anyone on her ship that may not get care packages. She told me the name of one of her friends, so I'm going to adopt a sailor - she just doesn't know it yet! Thanks Susan for the idea!

If you haven't guessed my packages tend to be on the silly side... What if you did the 12 days of Christmas following the song...

partridge in a pear tree... could it be a sticker of a bird on pear shaped soaps... or pears in a can?

two turtle doves... got to be dove chocolates!

three french hens... how about rubber chickens!

four calling birds... bird whistles... duck calls...

five golden rings... got to be the gaudiest rings you can find at the local thrift store

six geese a laying... I would fill plastic easter eggs with some candy

seven swans a swimming... got to be a water toy! squirt guns for seven??

eight maids a milking...malted milk balls anyone??

nine ladies dancing... how about a dvd of a dance themed movie?? Flashdance, Dirty Dancing

ten lords a leaping... this has to be a riverdance movie

eleven pipers piping... how about a bunch of pipe cleaners and a book of things to do with them?? or better yet a bubble pipe and bubble juice??

twelve drummers drumming... got to be a calendar of hot hunks

Oh my... looking around on the internet and look what I found... a grandma with the same sense of humor as myself!! I think for sure my adopted kids are going to get a 12 day of Christmas package from me!!

http://pie.midco.net/grammalowe/12days.html

What is the deadline for sending Christmas packages to the Middle East?

You ladies sure got me thinking. with google & some imagination this is what I came up with...

Now in the song, it's partridge and pear -
Yet when I looked, my trees were all bare.
So I ran to the store at a hurried pace.
Pears they had plenty, but no birds in the place!

Did you know two turtle doves are
Extremely hard to find?
So here are Turtles ‘n Dove—
The chocolate candy kind!

Hens are chickens
If they are French or not!
So here is some chicken soup to eat
Just make sure it’s cooked at the proper heat!

The calling birds have all flown away.
They're visiting the South to see the view.
Instead of a call, they left these few things,
Some pens and some paper – a gift just for you.

Only five golden rings?
They really are something.
Five ugly golden rings
I got at the store for almost nothing!

Six geese a-laying some eggs quite unique.
I looked at them close and what do you think?
They are filled up with candy!
Here are six for you, isn't that dandy?

The seven swans were swimming and having such fun,
That when I called them, they wouldn't come out, not one!
I called until my face, it turned blue,
So instead I bought these squirt guns for you.

The maids were all milking,
Milk foaming like suds.
And then they all vanished
Just leaving "Milk Duds".

Nine ladies dancing was a beautiful sight,
I applauded so loud, it gave them a fright!
They ran away quickly, leaving a cane or two,
So I picked them up especially for you.

Ten lords a-leaping.
Who could reach the stars first?
To send back to us
These delicious "star burst".

Those eleven pipers were piping remind me of sailors.
To leave them freezing while working would be such a bummer.
Now make you water piping hot and fill your cups with care,
I’m giving you some hot chocolate and I know you’ll love to share!

Twelve drummers drumming each on their own drum.
But twelve drummers drumming wouldn’t be all that fun.
The noise of their drums would surely hurt your head,
So eat all these cookies I sent you instead!

Day 1: can of pears
Day 2: Turtles candy & Dove candy
Day 3: Cup of Noodles (chicken flavor)
Day 4: pens and paper
Day 5: 5 cheap rings
Day 6: Plastic eggs with candy
Day 7: squirt guns
Day 8: Milk duds
Day 9: Candy canes
Day 10: starburst
Day 11: hot chocolate
Day 12: cookies

I had to fix day 11, cuz well it was late and I noticed the major grammatical errors and the fact that line1 &2 didn't rhyme. You'd think I'd do better being a teacher and all. ha ha

Those eleven pipers piping remind me of sailors.
To leave them freezing while working would be such a failure.
Now make your water piping hot and fill your cups with care,
I’m giving you some hot chocolate and I know you’ll love to share!

Love the poem.... great rewrite!!

Sending packages to sailors on my son's ship who don't receive anything...mail or otherwise. I am sending them to the Chief Petty Officer, and he will distribute them, already made contact with him.A wonderful business in a local town is going to take care of the postage. So blessed. Well anyway do any of you have any ideas of what to send sailors that I do not know. thanks

Where do I get addresses of groups or sailors/soldiers in middle east to send to?

Love the 12 days poem can I use?

newhorizonsship-- of course! That's why I posted it here. =)

Today approx. 800 pounds of stuff was sent to Sasebo, Japan for sailors aboard the USS ESSEX that would otherwise be forgotten this Christmas. It was a very blessed day.

Bless all of you that made that happen!

we are blessed. Restores what Christmas is all about.

It sure does. I wish that everyone understood that.

yes thanks ms247 I will check into this

I checked out Hickory Farms last night. Unfortunately, they are VERY limited on their military items. I spoke to customer service and was told that is all they will send to APO/FPO at the sale price. Only what they have left in stock. 8(

Hello!  I am wanting to make homemade chocolate pies in a jar to send to my sailor.  Worried about spoiling since it will take about 4 days to get to him.  Wondering if anyone has tried this?  Thanks

It might work with the cake/pie in a jar method. But the packages do go through many temperature changes. Would it melt?

I want to send my daughter her favorite six-hour spaghetti sauce. Haven't tried it though. A little nervous. 8)

The temperature changes is what worries me too!  With it having milk in it, I wonder if it will spoil.  Hmmmmm  he might have to learn to like apple or cherry!  lol

Once it is canned/sealed it should last up to six months...

Our group sent a BIG package in December and it hasn't got there yet.  A missing 800 pound box!  Still waiting.  May be Christmas in July.

Carla, no we haven't heard yet, but we are going to send more, only in smaller boxes (PO) this time.  Not discouraged just waiting.  But the small Christmas stockings may not be appropriate for later. lol

Hey Christine... see if you can pack all red items or pink items...  or theme it with some of the kids valentines...  I bought some 'super heroes' valentines...  had all the nieces and nephews sign them with their names...  then packed the same super hero fruit chews, found a towel and washcloth with the one of the heros, etc. was fun for my sailors to open...  and they are my heroes!!

Mikes mom....No be very generic....i.e.  baked goods, personal hygene , books , cards, clothes.

i had to fill out 2 forms but didn't have to put all of my info and my daughters info

My son is leaving on his first deployment next week.  I need all the ideas that I can get.  I am going to read through all of the old posts.  Thanks for being here!

I love this site . It give me so many ideas to send. what ideas do yall have for easter. for guys. my son is far away from home and now his phone is  dead and all I can do is send care pkgs and email.

Hi gang, I just heard about this USO offer, looks good!

Friends and family can create a free Rocketlife 20-page (60 photo), cargo-pocket size personal photo book and the USO ships it to any APO, FPO or MPO address, all for free!
http://www.uso.org/uso_rocketlife_photo_books.aspx
or go directly to http://uso.rocketlifeproduction.com

Carol, I created a discussion as you suggested, good idea!  Tonight I'm working on putting together the free photo book.  As the website says, it's easy.  I'm manually arranging the photos rather than letting the software do it, so taking a bit more time.  There are a lot of options for backgrounds; I'm using the "torn pages" one.  Wish I could see the outcome first before it's shipped off to the FPO address though!  Then again, I can buy a second one, and may do that for family here  :)

Does anyone have any ideas about filing a claim for a package (with computer) that was mailed to Guam 60 days ago and has not arrived....Was mailed in USPS Priority Box and insured...mailed to FPO in Guam.  Our Fleet and Family Support claims this should have arrive in 2-3 weeks, but it hasn't...We get no info when we try to trace through USPS...I have completed a military inquiry on the Military Postal Service site...Tyler has executed a trace thru the Guam base post office and still nothing.  Any advice?

Sorry Joanie, I don't know. Are you a member of Molly's Adopt a Sailor project? Molly has almost 900 members and they do so many mailings in general, someone there may have an idea about an insured shipment to an individual. http://www.navyformoms.com/group/mollysadoptasailorproject
The moms there are so nice and will help if they can :)

Thanks Marcy...I'll try that link.

Absolutely, you can get Wisps at the Dollar Tree.