Care Package Contents

[Clint]

WHAT WE NEED:

The primary item we want to send is a message from the heart -- cards, letters, notes -- something in words to let them know that we remember them, miss them, support them, keep them in our thoughts and prayers and are waiting for them to come home safely.

Printed-out jokes, cartoons, funny photos (keep it clean, please) and other morale boosters are also requested.

OTHER ITEMS:

We are more than happy to send over much-needed and wanted items along with your FTH message.

Supplies and items requested include but are not limited to:
- Bandanas
- Disposible Razors and Shaving Cream
- Eye Drops
- Jerky, candy and other Portable Food Items ("quick snacks")*
- Paperbacks and Magazines (nothing R-rated, please)
- Babywipes
- Lip Balm

*Please make sure that all food items are commercially sealed/packaged (nothing home-made please.).

[Clint]

There is no one size for shipments. Send what you can, when you can, and the message will be received.

There have been shipments over 400lbs!!!

Just remember: You can send as little as a card, and it will have a big impact.

[Clint]

Here are some suggestions I poached from the Alpha Company (2nd LAR) website http://apache2dlar.com/kvn/sponsor.htm:

Here is the "LIST OF REQUESTED ITEMS BY THE MARINES"
** AA Batteries
** Hand sanitizer
** Baby wipes
** Gatorade in small containers...dry powder
** Food in sealed packages...turkey breast, chicken breast and tuna in water
** Beef Jerky original
** Slim Jims
** Hard candy
** Power Bars/Nutrition Bars
** Trail Mix
** Socks medium thickness black only
** Deoderant
** Disposable razors
** Sunblock
** Floss
** Toothbrushes and toothpaste
** Gold Bond powder
Instant Kool-Aid in containers
Instant ice tea in containers
Disposable Cameras
Reading material....magazines and books. Absolutely no pornographic material.
Surgical gloves
Bug repellant
Mosquito nets to wear over helmets
Cooling packs that you shake and they turn to ice packs
Recreational games for morale...soccer balls, footballs, board games, cards, etc.
Small convenience sized boxes of washing powders for their clothes
(**) designate "must haves"

If a Marine gets too much of an item they will pass it on to another Marine who needs it.

[Keith]

Didn't we hear that good ole Toilet Paper is also a much cherrished item by the Marines?

[Keith]

I heard on the radio that PHONE CARDS are another item that the troops really enjoy getting. Especially with the holidays coming up, they are small, lightweight, and everyone can use them.

[Smitty]

Updated LIST:

Maruchen® Ramen Noodles
Detour® Whey Protein Bar
Nature Valley® Granola Bar, crunchy
Chewy granola bar or cereal bar
Kellogg's Pop Tarts®
Nabisco® Fruit snacks (100% Vitamin C)
Del Monte® canned fruit
Hunts Pudding Snack Pack®
Ritz® or Austin's® cheese or peanut butter crackers
Sleeve of Toasteds® crackers
Chewing gum, blister pack
Crystal Light® or Gatorade® drink mix
Baby wipes (large 80 count package)
Chapstick® brand lip balm
Pepperoni or sausage stick
Beef jerky strips
Peanuts
Sunflower Seeds
Grandma's Cookies
Assorted hard candies
Plastic utensils
Paperback novel (titles and author vary)
Pad of paper and/or envelopes
Ink pen
Boot Insoles
Socks, black or white
Toothbrush
Small size shampoo
Small size toothpaste
Toiletry: either deoderant, lotion, or body wash
3 ShaveMate® razors w/ shaving cream in the handle
5 Single-dose Bayer® aspirin packages
Cigar
Chewing tobacco or package of cigarettes
Playing cards, single-use camera, DVD, or other entertainment item

[Smitty]

WHAT WE NEED:

FOOD and SNACKS:
Beef Jerky / Slim Jims
COFFEE (Ground or whole; instant or drip), Hot Chocolate packets, Herbal teas
Instant Drink Mixes (Gatorade, Kool-Aid, Crystal Light)
Pumpkin Seeds / Sunflower Seeds (salted)
Tuna in foil pouches (no cans)
Protein Powders / Protein Bars / Cliff Bars
*NO CHOCOLATE PRODUCTS accepted from MARCH to OCTOBER (it will melt in high temperatures!)
Hard Pretzels / Cheetos / Fritos / Chex Mix / Wheat Thins
Gum and Hard Candy (must be individually wrapped)
Granola Bars / Power Bars / Cereal Bars
Small Packs of Fig Newtons, Oreos, Cheese-Its
Trail Mix, Dried Fruit, Granola, Fruit Roll-Ups / Fruit By The Foot / Fruit Gummies
DRY SOUP: (Ramen Noodles / Cup-O-Soup: just add water)
NUTS: Peanuts, Mixed Nuts (salted)
MICROWAVE FOOD (Popcorn, Chef-Boy-R-Dee, Mac'n'Cheese...)
COOKIES / Girl Scout Cookies (with chocolate: Oct. - Feb. only!)
Cheese & Cracker packs
Condiments, Spices; Sugar; Salad Dressing (no glass jars)
Oatmeal Packs (Instant: just add water)
Cereal (Small, individual boxes)
Rice Krispie Treats (Store-bought only)
Caffeinated gum or candy (to stay alert)
TOILETRIES:
Baby wipes (travel size)
Liquid Hand Sanitizer (travel size)
Body Wash, Liquid Soap, Facial Cleanser
Shampoo /Conditioner (travel size)
Hair Gel (for female troops to pull hair back)
Combs / Brushes, Bobby Pins
Eye Drops (i.e. Visine)
Nasal Spray
Deodorant (travel size)
Razors (disposable: "Intuition" or "Mach 3" type)
Shaving Cream / Shaving Soap (in boxes or tubes; NO CANS of Shaving Cream, please!)
Cotton Swabs (i.e. Q-tips)
Band-aids, Gauze Pads, First Aid Kits
Lip balm / Chap Stick
Baby Powder & Foot Powder (travel size)
Loufa Sponges / Buff Puffs / Washcloths
Tissues (individual packs; travel size only)
Sunblock, SPF 45, Zinc, Vitamin E, Aloe Vera Gel
Bug Spray / DEET / Skin-So-Soft
Hand & Body Lotion / Moisturizer (travel size)
Mouthwash (travel size)
Toothpaste & Toothbrushes & Dental Floss
VITAMINS (multi-vitamins are always needed!)
Breath Mints / Breath Strips
Lozenges / Cough Drops
Nail files / Emery Boards / Nail Clippers
Feminine Hygiene Products
Cotton Balls
Tylenol, Motrin, Advil or Aspirin Packets
Moleskin
Shoe Insole Cushions (gel kind is best)
ENTERTAINMENT and SPORTS:
Batteries: .AA. "AAA" and .C. are the most requested
DVD Movies (new or used)
Xbox Games (new or used)
PS2 Games (new or used)
Music CDs (new or used)
Portable CD players / head phones
Small homemade gifts - little comforts of "home"
Pens & mechanical pencils
Stationery & Envelopes; blank cards to send home
Double-sided tape
Day planners / Small, Pocket Calendars
Crossword Puzzles / Word Search Books / Math Puzzle books / MAD LIBS / Logic Problems / Sudoku
Magazines (used okay, but no more than 3 months old)
Paperback Books (new or in EXCELLENT CONDITION, with covers -
Yo-Yo's, Dominoes, playing cards, poker chips, dice
Board games (UNO, Othello, checkers - travel size is great, too!)
Nerf footballs / Whiffle balls / Mitts / Sports equipment
Frisbees / Hackey sacks
Electronic handheld games
35 mm disposable cameras
OTHER:
PHONE CARDS [pre-paid]:
Linens: Pillow cases, twin sheets, towels (green & tan)
T-Shirts: Cotton green & tan under shirts (Sizes: M, L & XL) [Note: The DOD banned "Under-Armor" shirts due to its material being potentially flammable & bad reactions to open wounds.]
Laundry Detergent
Small Flashlights (battery operated)
Air Fresheners
Socks: Black, Olive Green & White (cotton or wool)
Patriotic knick-knacks, USA flags, flags from your state, bandanas, baseball hats, football jerseys, banners.
Small alarm clocks (battery operated)
K-9 items: Dog treats & toys, dog shampoo, flea collars
Generic sunglasses
Duct tape, small tool kits, dust masks, carpentry tools
Fly swatters, fly paper, mosquito netting, bug repellant in plastic pump bottles only (NO AEROSOL CANS, PLEASE!)
Religious booklets, small bibles, inspirational readings
Small toys & school supplies for Iraqi & Afghani children
Small portable heaters & fans (110 voltage okay)
Coffee Makers (110 voltage okay) & coffee filters!
Microwave Ovens (55 lbs max; 110 voltage okay)
CARDS & LETTERS - The troops love to hear from all of us - Mail brightens their days! These are the MOST IMPORTANT items we can send the troops & we can never have too many, so please keep writing! Consider making a patriotic banner or poster to send in one of our care packages! Note: Our troops do not need stamps as they're in war zones & may send mail home to their loved ones at no charge.