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joann10
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| Posted: March 06 2007 at 8:45am | IP Logged
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This lent my children want to send a package to Iraq for soldiers using money saved that would have been used to buy treats for themselves.
I was wondering if any of you would have suggestions as to what would be the best things to send.
Keep in mind that it will not be a very large package. We will probably use a flat rate sized box right from the post office.
Thanks for any help you can give.
Joann
wife of Patrick 7/19/86
Mom to
Pat Jr 19
Becky 18
Matt 17
Dan 14
Amy 12
Laura 11
Mark 7
Grace 5
Luke 22 months
Kimberly 10 months
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Matilda
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A few months ago I read about someone who was organizing a toy drive for the children in Iraq. They had information on how to contact the USPS for free shipping supplies. You still had to pay for shipping, but they will deliver boxes, tape, etc... to your door. I had no luck when I tried to find the information again, but I did find this website for Operation Give. They offer a list of suggestions. If I find the other website, I will let you know.
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Mary G
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| Posted: March 06 2007 at 9:13am | IP Logged
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Joann,
THIS IS A GREAT IDEA! I love this....hopefully folks will pop up with some suggestions. Don't we have some guys that are over there?
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MaryG
3 boys (22, 12, 8)2 girls (20, 11)
my website that combines my schooling, hand-knits work, writing and everything else in one spot!
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8kids4me
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| Posted: March 06 2007 at 9:18am | IP Logged
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Ideas from my son, who is about to go back over: Oreos. Soldiers love them, and they don't melt. Chap stick,baby wipes, powdered drink mixes.
The last time my son was over, I tried to get the packing supplies from the USPS, but the never came.
Give your dear children a hug from an Army mom.
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Cindy B, mama to 8 great kids, and 5 grandbabies!
http://www.magnolialane.wordpress.com
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momtomany
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| Posted: March 06 2007 at 9:26am | IP Logged
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From back when my son was in Iraq: Pringles, granola bars, beek jerky and definitely baby wipes!
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Mary Ann in PA
wife to MIchael, mom to Elizabeth, Becca, Tim, Peter, Andrew, Sarah, Matthew, John, Leah and Joseph
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mellyrose
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| Posted: March 06 2007 at 9:55am | IP Logged
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My brother is currently in Kuwait (don't forget those soldiers serving near Iraq, but not in it!). Powdered drink mix is a big one -- esp. the single serving size packs you can get. Baby wipes, granola bars, cookies (Girl Scout cookies are very welcome - as long as there's no chocolate/caramel to melt), hard candy. I used to go to the dollar store and buy a bunch of bags of candy there and he & his tent-mates seemed to like that. Paperback books. thank you notes.
I've heard from multiple soldiers that they are burying pounds and pounds of chapstick because they have received so much of it - but if you know of a specific soldier that needs it, send it. Otherwise, I wouldn't send chap stick.
Have fun!
Melanie
Mom to boy6, boy4 and girl on the way!
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soodow
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| Posted: March 06 2007 at 10:28am | IP Logged
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I heard from a friend whose son is in Iraq that bread is appreciated. She bakes quick bread, freezes it.. by the time it gets there it is in good shape still.
We are doing this during lent also.
Sue
Mom of 6
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soodow
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| Posted: March 06 2007 at 10:29am | IP Logged
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oops... i forgot to say sends it  after she freezes it!
Sue
Mom of 6
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klquinby
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| Posted: March 06 2007 at 11:49am | IP Logged
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My dd's Little Flowers group just did this as a service project yesterday and put together 26 boxes! Here is the list of items that was recommended:
DVD's (used is fine), Puzzle books, decks of cards, dominoes and other small games, magazines, novels, stationery/cards for writing home, hard candy, mints, gum,etc. Here are other items recommended by the military that we can send:
a.. Shampoo and Conditioner
> b.. Sun screen
> c.. Body lotions/Hand Cream
> Tooth Brushes and Tooth Paste
> d.. Dental Floss
> e.. Foot Powder
> f.. Shower to Shower Powder With Baking Soda
> g.. Deodorant
> h.. Q-Tips
> i.. Baby Wipes
> j.. Bars of Deodorant Soap
> k.. Nail Clippers
> l.. Black Shoe Polish
> m.. Combs/Brushes
> n.. Insect Repellent Wipes
> o.. Visine Eye Drops
> p.. Shaving Cream/Razors
> q.. Chap Stick/Lip Balm
> r.. Icy Hot Patches/Ben Gay/Therma-Care Wraps For Sore Muscles
> s.. Packs of Foot Soak Powder
> t. . Boot Socks
> u.. Shoe Laces for Gym Shoes(white) and Boots(black)
> v.. Hand Warmers for Winter Time
> w.. Lysol Wipes
> x.. Air Fresheners(like stick-ons, Fabreeze but no aerosols)
> y.. Sewing Kits
> z.. Caps, Bandanas
> aa.. Small Flashlights For Reading at Night
> ab.. Batteries-AA, AAA, D Size
> ac.. Clothes Lines and Clothes Pins
> ad.. Cards, Dice, Poker Chips
> ae.. Gel Insoles For Shoes
> af.. Writing Paper, Envelopes, Ink Pens
> ag.. Word Puzzle Books
> ah.. Paper Back Books, Magazines
> ai.. Music CD's and Movie DVD's
> aj.. Disposable Cameras
> ak.. Inflatable Pillows
> al.. Small Hand Held Battery Powered Fans
> am.. Small Board Games, Dominoes, Small Electronic Games
> an.. International Phone Cards
> ao.. Zip Lock Bags-Small & Large to Store Items
> ap.. Footballs, Soccer Balls, Hacky-Sacks, Baseball and Gloves
> aq.. Frisbee, Dart Board Game, Squirt Guns, Yo Yo's, Nerf Balls
> ar.. Recent Photos of People, Places, Animals
> as.. All-Occasion Cards For Them To Mail Back To Their Family In U.S.
> at.. Art Work and Crafts From Children
> au.. Jigsaw Puzzles and Stress Release Squeeze Balls
> av.. Drink Cozies To Keep Canned Drinks Cool
> aw.. Community Newspapers, Church Newsletters and Bulletins
> ax.. Power Bars, Rice Crispie Treats, Little-Debbie Cakes, Kudo Bars, Peanut
> Butter Crackers, etc-All Individually Wrapped
> ay.. Pringles In Cans, Oth er Small Bags of Chips
> az.. Tea Bags, Coffee, Hot Chocolate Packets, Soup Mixes
> ba.. Canned Fruit-Single Serving
> bb.. Ramen Noodles, Mac & Cheese, Sardines in Can
> bc.. Peanuts, Sun Flower Seeds, and Other Nuts
> bd.. Altoids, Peppermints, Gum
> be.. Gatorade mix, Cool aide mix
> bf.. Microwave Popcorn
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joann10
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| Posted: March 06 2007 at 12:29pm | IP Logged
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Thanks for all the wonderful suggestions. We can sure fill up a box now.
I knew I could count on you super ladies.
Joann
wife of Patrick 7/19/86
mom to
5ds and 5dd
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teachingmom
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| Posted: March 06 2007 at 10:58pm | IP Logged
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Matilda wrote:
| A few months ago I read about someone who was organizing a toy drive for the children in Iraq. They had information on how to contact the USPS for free shipping supplies. You still had to pay for shipping, but they will deliver boxes, tape, etc... to your door. I had no luck when I tried to find the information again, but I did find this website for Operation Give. They offer a list of suggestions. If I find the other website, I will let you know. |
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I don't have the information on shipping, but I do have a link to an article about the toy drive. Our parish Challenge group just did this a few weeks ago and are sending a dozen large boxes of stuffed animals to the children of Iraq. A wonderful project too!
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~Irene (Mom to 6 girls, ages 7-19)
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Jen L.
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I defer to the knowledge of those in the military, but I just heard a talk given by a Catholic Navy chaplain who just returned from Iraq where he was ministering to the Marines(great talk, btw). He said that they receive way too many care packages and he is coordinating giving of school supplies to the Iraqi citizens.
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Jen
dh Klete,ds (8/95),dd (12/97), dd (11/00), and ^2^ in heaven
"...the best state in which to glorify God is our actual state; the best grace is that of the moment..." St. Peter Eymard
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Matilda
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| Posted: March 07 2007 at 8:22am | IP Logged
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Aquinas and More has a whole list of items requested by military chaplains.
You can find it here.
This link takes you directly to Fr. Victor's Soldier Registry.
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J.Anne
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| Posted: March 08 2007 at 10:23am | IP Logged
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My brother just arrived in Iraq - he said that he heard there was stuff was being stolen from packages sent overseas. Does anyone know anything about this? Troubling.
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Jennifer
http://ascozyasspring.typepad.com
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mellyrose
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| Posted: March 08 2007 at 10:34am | IP Logged
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J.Anne wrote:
| My brother just arrived in Iraq - he said that he heard there was stuff was being stolen from packages sent overseas. Does anyone know anything about this? Troubling. |
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Unfortunately, this is true. My brother (stationed in Kuwait, near the Iraq border) has known of a number of people who have had things stolen. He says that they think it is Americans who are stealing from them, since it is very unusual that anyone BUT Americans would be handling the mail. In their first month there his sargeant's wife sent him a box with a PSP, games, phone cards, foodstuffs and pictures that arrived with only mangled foodstuffs and the pictures.
That's one of the reasons we've been sending him candy from the dollar store, etc. Nothing valuable - just "raise your spirits" type of inexpensive stuff.
He recommends being as vague as possible on the customs form, which sometimes irritates the post office. (You are supposed to declare "exactly" what is in the package and its worth on the customs form, which is stuck outside the box.)
OH! Another thing! The Army told my parents that we should not put our address on the box bc terrorists might go through the garbage and get our addresses. This was when he first went over last summer. I don't know if that was really an issue or not, but it was something that the Army recommended at that time. They wanted them to use the base address.
Melanie
Mom to Colin (6), Nathaniel (4) and baby girl on the way!
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J.Anne
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Thank you for the tips, Melanie. We are trying to coordinate sending packages within the family. It is requiring a lot of planning.
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Jennifer
http://ascozyasspring.typepad.com
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Fuzzy
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I wanted to add that there may be a need for phone cards/internet cards so they can keep in touch with the family. I *thought* I heard that it takes money to use the webcams in certain places, as well as making calls.
I have 2 brothers-in-law who were stationed in Iraq and Kuwait, and the thing that they asked for the most was pictures. I used to "share" photos via Snapfish, and they ALWAYS sent me emails back, so excited to see soo many pictures. Because, yes, I take a lot!
Fuzzy
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Becky Parker
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| Posted: March 08 2007 at 12:11pm | IP Logged
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Our homeschool group just sent a package to Iraq. The wife of one of the soldiers gave us a list of the needed items. They all seemed to be covered above except for socks and t-shirts. I was kind of surprised by that but we sent several packages of tube socks and white mens t-shirts in various sizes.
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Becky
Wife to Wes, Mom to 6 wonderful kids on Earth and 4 in Heaven!
Academy Of The Good Shepherd
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guitarnan
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| Posted: March 08 2007 at 12:31pm | IP Logged
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My Navy friend in Afghanistan (currently en route home!!) says they can't get Pringles chips there. They mail well, too, because of the tube packaging. He really liked getting the ones we sent!
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: package to Iraq
