Holiday Packages for Soldiers

2008 Information HERE


DON'T FORGET Project Valour-IT
Now through Veterans Day, Nov. 11
LET'S GET IT DONE!!

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HOLIDAY PACKAGES FOR SOLDIERS

We all look forward to the holidays. We look forward to the comfort and happiness and nostalgia that the holidays bring and spending the time with our families. Imagine being thousands of miles away and having that day be like every other day... But you can make a difference to our soldiers...

The mailing deadlines are drawing near for packages to the troops, so I'm putting up some suggestions for things that can be sent to our troops.

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First let me say that if you do not know a soldier or marine or if putting together a package is something you're not comfortable with, there are a number of organizations that are making every effort to ensure that No Soldier Goes Unloved... and they could use a helping hand by means of donations, especially the wonderful Soldiers Angels Holiday Spirit for Heroes. You can give money or send Christmas stockings to be stuffed, or donations of goods to be used for stocking stuffers...

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For those looking for suggestions on things to send, here's a list -- certainly not comprehensive... IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS, PLEASE LEAVE THEM IN THE COMMENTS.

Christmas Stockings.

- Individual packets of hot chocolate, cider or hot soup mix…

- Candy (bite sized, individually wrapped, all kinds)

- AT&T Phone Cards (this brand because it works in the Middle East area)

- Hand held games (battery games with batteries, please)

- Small puzzle books

- Small, signed Holiday cards from you and your families (include your name and address!)

- Cigarettes (no lectures, please. I don't smoke, but most soldiers we know do)

- Cigars (good ones!)

- Books (current titles are greatly appreciated

- Magazines

- Microwave food items (popcorn, all in one pan microwave deserts, heat & eat soups, etc.)

- Cereal bars

- Granola Bars

- Home baked goods (pack brownies and cakes in bread slices or package in tins and wrap in plastic wrap

- Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) Gift Cards

- Pre-paid gift cards or gift certificates

from American Express, Visa, Amazon.com, or from specific stores - Best Buy, Staples, Barnes & Noble, Circuit City, etc.) These soldiers have a range of things they need or want over the course of their deployments...

Holiday decorations. Look around your homes and see your most cherished reminders of the holidays... and replicate those for our troops.

- Garland

- Shatterproof ornaments

- Tinsel

- Lights (small wattage)

- Small artificial trees

Warm weather items (it's cool there now -- Iraq, Afghanistan, Korea, Germany -- and getting colder).

- Stocking caps (black only)

- Long sleeve t-shirts -- (M, L or XL) but must be Army brown... Under Armour is preferred but also (less pricey) Dri-Release shirts (Soffee, Anvil, etc.) (but good luck finding them in brown). You can also order t-shirts and other deployment items at AAFES (click on the "Gift for Troops" icon in the upper right corner!)

- Gloves (tactical gloves are preferred... which you can also find online or at gun stores or military or police supply stores)

- Lightweight fleece blankets.

DVDs, Music CDs... new releases are greatly coveted... and believe me, they pass them around and trade them so one DVD or one CD makes its way to a lot of soldiers...

Footballs, baseballs, baseball gloves, soccer balls, volleyballs...

Holiday Cards that they can send to friends and families back home (they do not need postage!)

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Now for some practical suggestions:

Use FLAT RATE BOXES from the US Postal Service. $7.70 no matter how heavy you make the boxes!

Mail Early!!

Be aware that soldiers have a limit on the amount of "stuff" they can bring back so hold off sending priceless heirlooms and bulky items if your soldier is redeploying soon.

RESTRICTIONS ON CONTENTS: If you are sending to Iraq or Afghanistan, DO NOT SEND ANY OF THE FOLLOWING: obscene articles such as prints, paintings, cards, films, videotapes, etc.; pork or pork by-products; alcoholic beverages; any matter depicting nude or seminude persons, pornographic or sexual items; or unauthorized political materials.

If contraband is found in a package, the entire contents may not be delivered!

SHOW YOU CARE AND DO JUST ONE THING FOR OUR TROOPS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON...

JUST ONE THING...

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DON'T FORGET Project Valour-IT

Now through Veterans Day, Nov. 11

LET'S GET IT DONE!!