Care packages are fun to pack and fun for our soldier’s to receive. I get lots of questions about what to put in a care package for deployed soldiers.
Here is a list of stuff that I sent to my son in Afghanistan. Some of these items were requested and others I just sent because I wanted to. Would love to hear about what you pack in your care packages too!
Afghanistan is an extremely mountainous country with rugged terrain and harsh climate. It’s especially cold right now and even colder at 8,000 feet elevation. Thus, the cold weather items!
Practical items for the cold weather:
- Cabela wool boot socks and liners: my son loved these. His feet stay super warm now. This is an extra-heavyweight stretch boot sock made of 50% Merino wool/30% wool/10% nylon/9% acrylic/1% lycra® spandex. The liners are great for maximum wicking. Shipped direct from Cabela – fast.
- Cabela’s Polar Expedition-Weight Polartec® Power Dry Crew and bottoms: wear under clothing. Very warm and effective at wicking moisture away from the skin. They were on sale!
- Flannel bed sheets: was very happy to receive these. Target has great prices.
- Warm comforter (got it half price). Shipped direct from Sears – fast. He loves this too! You can also find these on Amazon.
Other stuff:
- Books: my son made a wish list of books on Amazon.com. Then anyone can buy a book and mark it off the list. You do not have to buy the book at Amazon to mark it as purchased.
- Snap lid plastic food containers: You cannot keep food around in B-huts living quarters due to little critters that also want the food. Air tight food containers work well.
- Shaker cup and protein powder
- Movie on DVD
- Bath towel (super deal at Costco)
- Washcloths
- SD card for the digital camera (still waiting for him to send me the pictures!)
- Cat food: the cutest little kittens have taken up residence in a nearby B-hut. Mom and Dad are kicking them out of the nest.
- Wartime prayer book: my parents neighbors sent this thoughtful book.
- Dunkin donuts ground coffee
- Instant coffee
- Lots of stuff from Trader Joe’s
- Granola bars, protein bars, and other healthy bars
- Individual snack bags of mixed nuts, sunflower seeds, trail mix, peanut butter crackers, almonds.
- Sunflower seeds (shelled)
- Jif To Go packs: Jiffy peanut butter in individual cups – sold in 6 packs.
- Organic applesauce individual cups
- BUMBLE BEE® Chicken Salad with Crackers: Mixed and ready to eat.
- Chunk white chicken in 7 oz. foil pouches.
- Travel size packs of tissue: these are great to fill in the gaps in the box and useful on the other end.
- Zip lock bags: put the small items in zip lock bags which are always useful for soldiers.
- Wheat crackers
- Dr. Bronners bar soap: we are fans of Dr. Bronner’s soaps. They are high quality, versatile, and eco-friendly.
- Plastic forks
- Chocolate covered expresso beans
- Natural turkey and beef jerky
- Toothpaste
- Lots of cans of chunky soup
- Trader Joe chile with beef or turkey
- Gum
- Lip balm
- Floss
- Baby wipes
- Roll of soft toilet paper
- Notebook paper and envelopes
- Over the door coat hooks
- 5 x7 pictures of his family with a frame
- Postcard from the beach
- Airborne effervescent
- Emergen-C
What’s in your soldier’s care package? Leave a comment!
Shelia Horvath says
Wet Wipes and sample bath/shampoo items!!!
TERESA S. says
in my soldiers packages i send him
* small paper plates
* plastic utensils
*nutella chocolate/hazelnut spread ( does not need to be refrigerated )
* individual fruit cups
* tortilla chips
* individual salsa cups
* individual water flavoring sitcks ( lemonade, ice tea , gator aide)
* sugar stick
* nut mixes
* small potato chip bags
* mini cans of dr pepper and gingerale
* tuna salad to go packs
* slim jims
anything small and individual that they cn open and eat and not have to refrigerate
anything they can put in a pocket and take on missions etc..
also i have this great thing that they love its called cake in a jar just google it its a great idea something you can send a whole squad
army wife of my MP =)
Melinda Cummings says
I send my son a package every week. I send his favorites as well as things I think he and his buddies might like:
beef jerky
Slim Jims
Hickory Farms summer sausage
packaged pepperoni
Tic tacs
Altoids mints
Jolly Ranchers hard candy
packaged caramel corn
Avon Care Deeply lip balm
Handy Wipes
Readers’ Digest
Guidepost magazines
People magazines
canned sardines and oysters
Ritz crackers
homemade fudge
small photo albums of family and friends, nearby Daytona Beach, parks, places he loves
whit says
I sent very nontraditional packages. He was deployed from summer to winter and during his birthday.
I sent a ‘vacation box’ with a blow up palmtree, sand toys, a mini fan, pictures of a beach he wants to go to when he gets back, a lei, anything I could think of and fit in the box. I wrote every letter different, one was a puzzle so he had to put it together to read it, one was completely on notecards- numbered each with an inspirational quote. He was gone during his birthday so I sent a birthday party box with a cake, party hats, party favors, even a pin the tail on the donkey. I got friends all over the US to sign birthday cards as his presents. Sent a pecan pie and a chistmas tree with ornaments and a present for Christmas- which was extremely hard to fit in the box, and not even sure it will be in good shape once it arrives. He comes home in Feb and will he him for Valentines Day- so Im making a chocolate box full of hershey kisses, one for every day he will have been gone. He enjoys having something other than just the necessities that he gets from the rest of his family… 🙂
victoria baker says
my husband is currently I in A.I.T. all of these ideas are wonderful, he really likes the homecooking and baking so don’t skimp on that fellow army wives. other things im sending him include a book light, visine drops, a handheld back massager, a stress ball, a day planner and a flash drive. an idea occurs to me however that sending a small article of clothing from yourself might be special. while he was away at basics I slept with his shirt that smelled like him and I didn’t miss him as bad, im sure if the situation were reversed something like a bandana with our perfume would help the long time away from us women 🙂 good luck everyone
Faith says
I sent homemade cookies in empty Pringles cans. The cans kept the treats fairly fresh, crumble free & on arrival, kept the critters out.
Katie says
Thank you so much!! This was very helpful 🙂 me and some of the girls at my school are makeing care packages for the Marines. Best of luck to your son. I thank him for serving our country! Send love <3
Donna Dovico says
I have adopted a soldier we are sending what he ask for the rest we guess at we have been told they open the packages take out what they wantnthen share with the others so I do not think their is anything you could send that would not be used or wanted by some one in the unit
mauzy says
my son goes to afghanistan tomorrow. Mom’s ………..thank u for all your input! It is incredibly helpful
Donna says
Can you send protein powder in a zip lock bag or does it have to be in its original container
TINA says
I have sent hot coco, packets of tuna, beef jerky, velveta, rotel, chips, circus peanuts, oreos, hand warmers, silly string, footballs, books, games, movies. Just all kinds of things. They really enjoy it and if my soldier doesn’t like or want something he shares. They appreciate anything that is sent to them.
Laura Barnett says
I had two sons deployed at the same time, I kept open boxes on a table and added items to them (and the customs forms) until they were filled with: Fritos and little cans of bean dip, spicy Cheezits, Little cans of Pringles; homemade Rice Krispy treats were in every box (requested by the platoon); zipties, hand warmers, dried fruits, in warmer weather, fly traps and fly swatters ( it is a third world country, mom); flavor pouches for bottled water, real cotton sheets (college team colors and cartoon) crocheted scarves (for them and as gifts to the interpretors, villagers)
Magan says
My husband is currently in AIT and he can’t receive any type of food or drinks. Any ideas on what I can send him other than food? He says he can get toiletries there so if I can’t send him that then idk what else to get lol
Gps Mobil says
Highest honor to all of the man who serve the country.
Melissa Cleveland says
individual plastic containers of dill pickles
fun silly games such as
rubiks cube
uno cards
yatzee
encouragement cards
sunflower seeds
peanut butter crackers
socks( cannot have logos on them)
vivarin
garlic pills
water toys
Diane says
I sent my son the Sunday funnies. He said they would pass them around for everyone to read.
Rebecca Rojas Helms says
Today August 20,2017 @ 9:00pm ,
My son Christopher starts his journey to Kandahar Afghanistan.. I’m so proud to be his mom. I pray the good Lord guides every step he and his soldiers walk every day and night for the rest of there lives. I appreciate every one who has the courage to serve our country.
Ashley says
I love this post and the comments. very good ideas for when I send my first care package. Especially loved the bandanna and pringles can idea.
It is so nice to see other people who have gone or are going through what I will be soon. Thanks for the help!
Girlfriend of an MP vet