You asked about samples for care packages

[DammitJanet]

Here is a list off the Marine Moms site that I will be collecting over the next months to send over. No way am I asking any of you to send me all of these things...or any of them...lol. But if anyone wants to collect a few things and send them my way then I would be grateful. If I get more than I need just for Jamie then we will share with other Marines.

EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING

Letters from home.... And lots of them.
Pictures from home.

PERSONAL HYGIENE

(Use trial size when available)

A&D Ointment
Avon Bug Gard
Antifungal cream
Foot powder
Chapstick
Blistex
Sunscreen
Razors
Mach III razor refills or other type as requested
Unscented baby wipes
Lotion
Bar soap
Hand sanitizer
Motrin, Tylenol, Excedrin, etc.
Allergy medicine
Face wash (like Clearasil)
Eye drops for dry eyes
Jock itch spray
Throat lozenges
Moleskin (pads for sore feet, Dr. Scholls type)
Dr. Scholls shoe liners
Gel boot insoles
Toothbrushes
Dental floss
Toothpaste (gel)
Mouthwash
Shampoo
Clear deodorant
Waterless soap
Paper toilet seat protectors
Travel size toilet paper
Toilet paper (remove cardboard and flatten roll)
Bandaids
Echinacea
Vitamin C
Cough drops
Neosporin
Shaving creme in a tube

WORK EQUIPMENT

Waterproof Matches
Thick rubber gloves
Flashlight with red lens
Inova Tactical Lithium Microlight
Maglite Mini-Light
Duct tape -- Military green, tan, black or gray
Electrical tape - Brown or green
Handyman tool
Swiss Army Knife
Leatherman
Tactical Rifle Sling

CLOTHING

Bandanas
Thermal underwear for winter
White socks (inexpensive ones)
Nomex gloves
1. Special Forces
2. RS Tactical Gear
3. Blackhawk Industries
Soffee green PT shorts
Cooling neck ties for summer
1. Military.com
Head wrap
1. RS Tactical Gear
2. Military.com

FOOD ITEMS

Advisory - Seal any cans that have a pull-tab lid in ziploc bags and seal shut with tape before mailing. (Learned the hard way when the lid on a can of Chunky soup popped between home and Baghdad.)

Chocolate should be sent during winter months only.

Chewing gum (preferably sugar free)
Breath mints
Candy bars
Gummie bears, Skittles, Etc.
Single serving canned fruit
Fruit leathers
Easy Mac macaroni & cheese
Ready to eat soup (such as "Chunky") with a pull tab top
Hormel Chili
Single serving pudding (may want to include plastic spoons)
Mixed nuts
Single serving cracker packs with cheese
Single serving chip and dip packs
Canned nacho cheese/salsa (must be canned or in a plastic bag)
Snack crackers
Pringles or other chips in sturdy containers
Protein bars
Poptarts, cereal bars, "milk & cereal" bars, granola bars
Single serving sweet cereal boxes
Tuna (preferably the tuna in an envelope rather than a can)
Canned smoked salmon
Dried soup mixes
Dehydrated foods
Beef jerky (NO PORK)
Spice blends
Condiment packets from fast food restaurants
Bacon Bits (and anything that can be used to spruce up MRE's)
Instant hot chocolate
Instant flavored coffee mixes
Presweetened drink mixes (Kool-Aid type)
Russian tea mix (recipes available on internet)
Tea bags
Flavored coffee creamer
Electrolyte Replacement Powder (for summer)
1. Hydralyte
2. Powerade
3. Cytomax
4. ElectroBlast
Cakes in a Jar (Made and sent to Iraq with great success!) (Can also be made using any boxed cake mix)

ENTERTAINMENT

Crossword puzzle books
Seek-A-Word books
Brain teaser type games
Playing cards
Nerf type footballs or other throwing items
Stress balls (hand-held soft balls)
In summer, cheap hand-held fans - just for fun
Magazines -- NO PORN
Books
DVD's

MISCELLANEOUS

Goggles
International phone cards
Writing paper
Envelopes
Pens
Journals
Batteries (especially AA)
Disposable cameras
Padded envelopes to mail camera homes
Ziploc bags (quart and gallon sizes)
Sealable, disposable containers
Clothesline with small clothespins
Cheap sunglasses
Camping pillows
Bed sheets
Flannel bed sheets for winter
Thin blankets
Inflatable air mattress (like those used in pools)
Beach balls (can be used as pillows)
Disposable foot/hand warmer packs for winter
Plastic containers with lids
Can opener
Dryer fabric softener sheets
Travel size Febreeze spray
Laundromat sized laundry detergent
Portable shower
Collapsible water cup
Pinup posters -not porn
Stick-up air fresheners
Rat traps
Fly Paper
Personal Mist Coolers

VICES

Cigarettes, pref. Marlboros or Basics in the non menthol (Do not list on customs form)

 

[flutterbee]

Thanks for the list, Janet. I'll try to pick up something once a week as I can afford it.

by the way, would this be a good list for Wynter to use if she were to start a collection like you mentioned?

 

[DammitJanet]

Yes Heather...and thanks...but please dont put yourself out. You can sign up on many of the freebie sites too but make sure you get a throwaway email addy or you will get inundated with spam.

 

[flutterbee]

I'm at the grocery store 2 or 3 times a week anyway. It's no bother.

And this thing with Wynter really has me reeling. I need to focus on something else. I started researching my health stuff again, but I'm not in the right frame of mind and just diagnosis'd myself with about 36 different things so I need to stop that.

This will give me something I feel I can make a difference in. I need that now. So, it's helping me, too.

So, there.

 

[klmno]

Janet, I could get some of these things. It would help me to spend a little energy thinking about someone other than difficult child's situation all the time.

 

[Star*]

Janet,

The simple fact that I can GO to bed at night, and sleep safely IS HUGE.

I know these people are over seas in hostile lands, getting shot at, dealing with sand, heat, cold, rain, bugs, sanitation issues, missing THEIR families lives -

So gathering a few samples is nothing.

We have a Marine corp at work we support - last year I bought -socks (what else?) They don't have access to washing machines, and wear them until the sand cuts their feet so badly they take them off and put on a new pair.

If I had to walk in boots, in heat, with a full pack, I could do it - but if I had to do all the above with SAND in my SOCKS? I would croak.

A neat Idea - We sent a SC state flag - and had everyone sign it in silver pen with inspirational messages. The kids LOVED it!

 

[meowbunny]

Oddly enough, another BIG item is golf balls. I didn't know that many people liked the game but they seem to be very popular -- maybe it's all the sand over there?

 

[KTMom91]

Janet, thank you for the list.

 

[susiestar]

Janet,

Thanks for the list. A lady here makes neck wraps that are soaked in water and then stay cool for several hours. they dry totally flat, then puff up and stay moist. Is this the neck wrap??

Hugs,

susie

 

[DammitJanet]

Susie...YES!!!! I am trying to find them here. They used to sell them in walmart but I havent been able to find them here lately. I figured I would be forced to sew my own which will be a disaster since I cant sew a button on...lol.

 

[susiestar]

Janet, I haven't seen them since the county fair. That will be in Sept. I don't think making them would be hard, I just don't know what is inside them! Do you??

 

[susiestar]

Janet,

check out this:

http://www.bodycool.tv/store/easy child/viewCategories.asp?idCategory=4

http://www.bodycool.tv/store/easy child/viewCategories.asp?idCategory=3

I think this is the top of the line one I saw, seems to be worth the price for a soldier. I will check others.

These can be bought from many other sources, or made. The most important thing is using a top quality polymer instead of the walmart gardening polymer. A web search on "watersorb brand polymer granules" will give a lot of info. And if you have a relative who sews, this should be a breeze (pun intended).

Hugs,

susie

 

[DammitJanet]

Whats inside is those clear gel beads that you use to plant plants in...does that make sense? They sell it in the gardening part of walmart. They are little and hard when dry but turn into this jelly like substance when wet.