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!

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
• P90X Protein Bars
• Natural turkey and beef jerky
• Toothpaste
• Lots of cans of chunky soup
• Trader Joe chile with beef or turkey
• Shakeology superfood health shake packets
• 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!