His wife's blog: "Something I found (for all those girls whom feel this way!)"

"Surviving the Sandstorms"- Eye wash; Nasal spray; Chapstick; Bandana; goggles/sun glasses; etc

"Laundry Load" Soap to pack in their clothes if no washer; Fabric sheets; clean socks & undershirts; Febreeze

"A Day at the Beach!"- sunscreen; beach towel; beach snacks; flip flop sandals (shower shoes); aloe vera gel;

"Medicine Cabinet"- band-aids; Neosporin cream; A&D ointment; cold medicine; alka seltzer; Rolaids; etc.

"Staying Healthy"- nutrition bars (ex: Powerbar; Tigers Milk); vitamins; Nutri-grain bars; Gatorade

"MRE Survival "- restaurant Size packs of: bbq sauce, mustard, ketchup, mayo, salt. Pepper, taco sauce, ranch

"Correspondence Carton"- notebook paper; stationery; pens; pencils; stickers ; envelopes, address book, camera (with a note to send back once it is full);

"Action Hero's"- Powerbars; squirt guns; Red Bull drinks; small Army figurines; comic books; Gatorade; etc

"To Be A Kid Again"- silly string; bubbles; small bouncy balls; hacky sacks; brain teaser toys (rubix cube, etc); deck of cards; dominoes; slinky, Frisbee's; Pez w/ dispenser; Nerf balls; sand box toys (pail, small shovel, etc);

"Toiletries"- TOILET PAPER; razor; foot powder; bar soap; washcloth; travel Size shampoo; toothpaste; brush;

"Ruck Sack Pack"- favorite snacks. Doritos; M&M's; nuts; chips; dips; crackers; jelly beans; beef jerky; gum; etc.

"Breakfast on the GO"- mutrigrain bars; instant oatmeal cups; small boxes of cereal; pop tarts; donuts: muffins; cocoa;

"Stress Reliever"- back scratcher; bubble wrap; yo-yo's; bubbles; squeezy tension ball;

"Sloppy Kisses"- since we know chocolate melts over there….send a bunch of Hershey's kisses. Bound to be "sloppy kisses!"

"I'm Nuts About You"- peanuts; cashews; pistachios; peanut butter cookies; any candy or cookies with nuts in them; Nutter Butter's; Peanut Lover's Chex mix; Fiddle Faddle with peanuts

"Chili Today, Hot Tamale"- hot tamales (candy); salsa sunflower seeds; Cajun flavor Pringles; Spicy chex mix; Boston red hots; peppered beef jerky; taco bell hot sauce packets; Extreme Doritos; chili powder; nacho cheese sauce in a can; Tums/Rolaids, Jalapeño Ritz

"And this little piggy went to the sandbox"- (foot care kit)- foot powder; Dr, Scholl's boot inserts; foot lotion; foot file; fresh, clean socks; toe nail clippers; scrub brush; odor eaters for shoes/boots; foot soaks (either include a small bucket or large Ziploc bags to soak feet it)

"How do you eat your OREOS??!!"- regular Oreos; peanut butter Oreos; double stuff Oreos; low fat Oreos; chocolate filled Oreos; chocolate covered Oreos; holiday Oreos

"Muchas Gracias…Nachos Supreme"- Doritos &/or Frito; Mexican Velveeta; salsa (wrapped in bubble wrap); nacho cheese dip; jar of jalapenos (wrapped in bubble wrap); taco seasoning; small paper plates or bowls (so they can make their nachos); taco sauce (especially easy are those condiment packets from Taco Bell); You could also send the sauces from the various Mexican dinner kits Taco Bell Nacho Supreme kit

"Sweet Tooth"- Nerds; Gummy Bears; Laffy Taffy; Bubble Gum; Tootsie Rolls; Lolli pops;

"For the Fisherman"- Goldfish crackers; tuna pouches; canned smoked salmon; cans of sardines; gummy worms; Go Fish card game; Field & Stream magazine; electronic fishing rod game; Sponge Bob Square Pants stuffed toy; fishing game toy

"Say CHEEEESE!"- disposable cameras; cheese dip; Doritos; Cheetos; Cheese nips; Better Cheddars; Velveeta;

"Kick Back & Relax"- Dominoes; playing cards; magazines; books; music cd's; crossword puzzles; jigsaw puzzles; word searches; hand held electronic games; squirt guns; water balloons; bubbles; hacky sacks; Nerf balls; board games (Axis & Allies, Clue, Trivial Pursuit, etc);

"Christmas in July"- wrap everything in Christmas wrapping paper; peppermint flavored hard candies;

"Italian Stallion"- Italian cheese Ghardetto's; Pizza-licious Pringles; Pepperoni pizza Combo's; small Boboli pizza bread; pizza sauce (for dipping Boboli); canned Ravioli, spaghetti, lasagna, etc;

"American Classics"- Pez with dispensers; Cracker Jacks; Lifesavers; Necco Wafers; Pop Rocks; Nerds; Good & Plenty; Candy Necklaces; Candy cigarettes

"Deployed on Thanksgiving"- canned turkey; instant mashed potato cups; hard breadsticks; gravy in a jar (wrapped in bubble wrap); Hostess apple pies; small can of corn (or other veggie); something special to cheer them up on
**Thanksgiving (pictures from home; magazines; tape recorded tape; small scrapbook; etc)

 Packing 101

Packing
Put anything that could leak or melt or has a scent in an zipper-Style bag (zip lock bagging something along that line). DO NOT include food items in a care package with ANY hygiene items or chemicals of any type.

Use a sturdy box and cover all previous labels and markings with heavy black marker or adherive labels. Fill all extra space with foam, peanuts, newspaper, bubble wrap or popcorn. Double tape all seams with strong packing tape.

I suggest using the USPS flate rate boxes. DOES include any APO/FPO mailing address as well.

You can also request a "CARE KIT" for mailing packages to the military by calling 1-800-610-8734. The kit contains 4 Priority Mail boxes, 6 Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes, 10 Priority Mail labels, 1 roll of Priority Mail tape, and 10 customs forms with envelopes. There is no charge for the kit.

Send in easy to handle boxes (say under 10 pounds). Use heavy packing tape on all corners of the box, and wrap the tape so it goes all the way around in every direction of the box. Packages must wiegh less then 70 lbs and be smaller the 130 inches in total length and girth.

Take your package to the post office and fill out customs declaration and dispatch note. Postal services form 2976-A (Customs Form) is required for all mail weighing 16 ounces or more. customs documentation on any potentially dutiable mail addressed to an APO or FPO regardless of wieght.

All mail is subject to X-ray so fill out a customs form accurately.

In the upper left corner, write your complete return address.

It is recommended that you stop sending packages to your troop one month before they are expected home. Military bases usually stop all mail one month before redeployment.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE FOLLOWING CAN NOT BE SENT:

Pressurized items

 Pornographic material

Alcohol

Religious Material

Anything that contains PORK

 No WAR type materials or toys