Posted: 7/12/2007 2:23:55 PM EDT
| I know this doesn't neccesarily belong in the survival forum, but it does! I just happened on a thread in GD about sending stuff to our men and women in Iraq. So the wife and I got to talking and we want to send some packages over there to these fine people. I called my little brother, who did a tour there and he is supposed to get me some addresses and list's to send. Anyway my wife works at the hospital here and it going to put a poster on the bulletin board at work to donate stuff. My question is, do you guys or anyone who post's in here that might be in Iraq have any suggestion's as to what to send. I have a ton of idea's but I want some feedback from actual people who are there. I am very serious about this and am now in the position to help out a little. If the mod or someone else wants to move this then that is fine, I just know that this has been posted a million time in GD but I am not a team member and can't search everything, that is why I am not posting there, by the way I am fixing to change that. Any help would be greatly appreciated |
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below is what my wife and i typically send every other month; the pics should give you some good ideas. a lot of what we send is the result of feedback from prior shipments. we use the anysoldier website to get contacts. if your local PO offers "flat rate" packages, grab some and stuff them to the max. you are olnly paying shipping to a US address -- the mil will take over from there and deliver your packages to the soldier at the FOB etc. ar-jedi     ps: we have made some nice contacts too -- the fella below sent me back his unit patch and a CD that he and his guys made.   |
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From someone who's been there twice: Baby wipes Drink mix Spice mixes (almost anything can make an MRE better) I like Wheat Thins and Easy Cheese, YMMV Letters, doesn't matter who it's from, but it's good to hear from someone once in a while. Tactical accessories (my unit was live-and-let-live about gear SOP) Cigarettes Lighters Knives Toothbrushes Razors Books That's all that comes off the top of my head, may edit as flashes hit me. ETA: Mouthwash, for when you can't brush Liquid soap, comes in handy if you have time to wash in the field Advil geltabs |
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I love stuff like this. I wish i had more disposable income for such things. When I do this is also a good site to support... American Snipers(formerly Adopt a Sniper) |
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From someone who has been sending packages over there for several years now...USPS flat rate boxes are your best bet. You can stuff as much as you can in them and it costs the same regardless of weight. You can get them from your post office or go to the USPS website. As for what to send....the suggestions made so far are good. Crystal Light flavoring packages made for adding to water bottles are often appreciated, good coffee in bricks, phone cards and any seasonal items when the time of year is right. Just my .02 |
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Thanks a ton guys! I went to anysoldier and did some looking around and I am gonna check out adoptasniper also. What about medical supplies like gauze, big band-aids, stuff like that. Not the big stuff just personal first aid boo-boo kinda stuff. I am gonna send over some weapons related stuff like cleaning stuff and maybe even a couple of new magazines, any other suggestions there? Ar-jedi that is a pretty cool letter they sent back to you. Do you still stay in contact with them? Anyway thanks again guys and keep the ideas coming in. This is somthing I have wanted to do for awhile and the wife and I just kinda spur of the moment decided to do it last night. |