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Apr. 21st, 2003 04:59 pmFor those with friends and relatives in the military who are currently in the Middle East, my cousin (whose husband is now over somewhere in the sands) sent this link to information about what can and can't be sent to that region of the world, as well as what's most useful:
Care Packages
There's a link to Operation Interdependence Delivers, where they suggest thinking this to get in the right frame of mind: "If you were on the worst backpacking trip of your life, with no stores around for 6 months, what would you want to drop out of the sky?"
Besides the usual sunblock, eyedrops, snacks, chapstick, etc., there were some things on the list that I hadn't thought of as things that might not be available:
I hear Q-tips and big makeup brushes are handy for getting the sand out of small places. (I wonder if mini sewing kits would be allowed? A couple needles and some thread come in handy for a LOT of things. Extra buttons, velcro?)
The way I figure it, this war wasn't the troops' idea, they're stuck out in the middle of a desert with summer coming on, carrying out the orders of someone who shirked his own responsibility- they deserve a little kindness!
While I can't afford to send whole care packages on my own, I'm picking up little things here and there to add to packages that friends and family are sending.
Care Packages
There's a link to Operation Interdependence Delivers, where they suggest thinking this to get in the right frame of mind: "If you were on the worst backpacking trip of your life, with no stores around for 6 months, what would you want to drop out of the sky?"
Besides the usual sunblock, eyedrops, snacks, chapstick, etc., there were some things on the list that I hadn't thought of as things that might not be available:
- kleenex (sample size packets; also good for TP, which is apparently in short supply!) Use the packets as packing material, to cushion other things.
- feminine hygiene products (often no PX around to pick up things if they run out- wouldn't THAT suck?!?)
- laundry soap (sample size or tablets)
- wet wipes! Especially in travel or individual size packets.
- moleskin/Dr. Scholl's
- small notebooks, envelopes with stationery
- astronomy charts/books (the sky is unbelievably clear at night)
- electrical and duct tape (military green, tan, black, gray)
- pre-addressed labels or envelopes
- baby/foot powders, especially those good for athlete's foot/jock itch
- Ziplock bags, especially quart and gallon size
- food items, like koolade, cocoa mix, tea bags, hot sauce packets (guess those MRE's can be kinda bland), power/protein bars, tuna "kits", etc. Especially things that don't require heating or hydrating.
I hear Q-tips and big makeup brushes are handy for getting the sand out of small places. (I wonder if mini sewing kits would be allowed? A couple needles and some thread come in handy for a LOT of things. Extra buttons, velcro?)
The way I figure it, this war wasn't the troops' idea, they're stuck out in the middle of a desert with summer coming on, carrying out the orders of someone who shirked his own responsibility- they deserve a little kindness!
While I can't afford to send whole care packages on my own, I'm picking up little things here and there to add to packages that friends and family are sending.
