Pack a Care Package to Iraq

Iraq sand storm
Photo by James Gordon

Both military troops and civilians love getting packages from home. A surprise package from friends/

  • acquaintances is a special treat.

    When we sent a group of care packages out, we knew when they hit. Happy phone calls to the folks back home. Any many will write back if they get the chance. Here is how one described the weather in Iraq:

    “It has gotten up to 125 F, so if you want to know how it feels get yourself soaking wet (sweat) rub sand all over your body and have someone hold a hairdrier over you all day”

    One of the best ways to send a package is to pick up one of the smaller sized flat rate priority mail boxes from your post office and pack it full. Boxes themselves are free and ship for under $10. Some suggestions of what to pack in a box to Iraq:

    • Pictures, pictures, pictures. Our church group got together to send packages to members of our congregation in Iraq, dressed up in red, white and blue, added anything Texas related, took snapshots, added to the care packages. Those photos were priceless.
    • Jerky, Slim Jim’s and other dried meat snacks.

    • Nuts of any kind
      . If you know their favorites, be sure to include.
    • Candy, we chose to send hard candy and sealed in zip lock bags. No chocolate, I’m sure they’d love it, but considering the summer heat, it could arrive as a chocolate puddle.
    • Zip lock bags. I would not have thought of this one, but they are quite useful over there. Keep bugs and sand out.
    • Snack items such as gum, cookies, popcorn, chips stacked in those little containers. . . Too many to list just make sure they are not perishable, meltable.
    • Lip Balm. You can even get ones with sun protection. Think about it, they are in a desert, cuts down on dry chappy lips. Throw in several.
    • Dental floss, baby powder, sunscreen, lotion, baby wipes, I’ve even seen wipes with both sunscreen and bug repellent.
    • Phone cards, check with your friend overseas. How are they calling home? Do they have their own satellite phone, or do they use pre-paid calling cards. If purchasing minutes, then calling cards are always welcome.
    • Reminders of home. We sent patriotic (near 4th of July) wrist bands, stickers, flags. Any thing that reminds them of home. The kids had fun when one of the guys was back home visiting, thanked our children’s group, and was still wearing the wrist band from home.
    • Save and send the Sunday funnies, click good newspaper articles.
    • Pictures, drawings, letters. Get a group together, write letters, draw pictures, we had pre-schoolers drawing pictures which we included in our packages. On guy shared drawings with his friends in Iraq. Can you believe there are some over there that never get any mail and a drawing from an unknown child to post in their area is a welcome treat. Means more than the store bought items.
    • Record yourself and save to a cd. Tell about your day, read a story, read the good things in your local paper.
    • Most important, make sure you let them know they are much appreciated. Not forgotten.

      For an easy way to send personalized photo greeting cards, visit CardsConnectSimply.

  • 2 thoughts on “Pack a Care Package to Iraq

    1. Another way to support our troops everyday is through eMailOurMilitary.com. =)

    2. Trish,

      Thanks for the link. Our troops need all the support they can get.

      http://emailourmilitary.com/

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