Care Package Ideas

Canned Items

• Canned fruit
• Chicken and/or packs; pop-top
• Peanut butter / Jelly
• Sardines
• Tuna and/or packs (tuna in pouches are best)

Condiments

• Cajun seasoning
• Catsup
• Garlic salt
• Honey packs
• Hot sauce
• Lawry’s
• Mayo,
• Mustard
• Relish
• Salad dressings
• Salsa (don’t forget the taco chips)
• Salt/pepper, sugar packets
• Spices
• Sweet N Low
• Ground Coffee (if they have a coffee-maker – be sure it’s unflavored ground coffee)
• If you send coffee beans – be sure to send a coffee grinder
• Tea / Hot Chocolate
• Instant Cappuccino
• Coffee creamer
• Hot chocolate mixes
• Instant coffee
• Tea bags

Microwavable Foods

(if they have a microwave)

• Mac & Cheese
• Popcorn
• Brownie mix
• Various mini dinners
• Instant oatmeal
• Instant soups / soups in pop-top containers

Powdered Drink Mix Singles

• Crystal Light
• Gatorade
• Juice boxes
• Kool-Aid
• Propel, etc.

Snacking Foods

• Beef Jerky / beef sticks, summer sausage
• Cheese spreads / small Velveeta cheese blocks
• Dry Cereal
• Chex Mix
• Chips
• Cookies
• Crackers for snacking
• Doritos
• Dried fruit
• Energy bars / Cereal Bars / high protein bars / Granola Bars
• Fruit pies
• Gum, Hard Candy wrapped (no chocolate in summer)
• Little Debbies & other snack cakes
• Nuts (all kinds)
• Pudding cups

Toiletries

• Advil, Tylenol, Cold/Cough drops, Sinus Meds
• Antacids
• Antibiotic Cream (Neosporin)
• Anti-Bacterial Wipes
• Baby Oil, Baby Powder
• Baby Wipes
• Bath mat
• Bath/hand/wash towels (dark colors)
• Blankets for cooler weather
• Body Wash / soap (be sure to triple pack the soap and not put it near the food as it leaves the smell of soap on the food)
• Chapstick
• Clothes Pins/Line
• Contact Lens Cleaner
• Cotton Balls
• Dental Floss
• Deodorant
• Disposable hand and feet warmers
• DUSTING CLOTHS for removing the sand from everything and every surface
• Eye Drops
• Eyeglass Kit
• Face Soap
• Foot Inserts for boots
• Foot/Boot Powder
• Insect Repellent Wipes/ non aerosol spray with Deet (need in spring/summer)
• Imodium
• Laundry Soap / Fabric Softener
• Air Freshener
• Lotion for body and hand
• Mattress toppers
• Mirror
• Mouthwash
• Nasal Spray/Drops
• Packaged Wet Ones / baby wipes
• Pepto Bismol
• Pillow with pillowcase
• Pocket Size First-Aid Kit
• Puma Stones for feet
• Q-Tips
• Shampoo
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• Toenail/Fingernail Clippers
• Toilet Paper
• Tooth Paste / Tooth Brush
• Tooth Picks
• Twin Fitted dark sheets
• Vitamins
• Men:  Razors, Shaving Cream in a tube, aftershave lotion (no fragrance)
• Women:  Panty Liners, feminine hygiene products, conditioner, brush/comb hair clips/bands, non-aerosol hair spray, hair gel

Suggested Clothing

• Hats, bandanna; Socks – white for PT; black for everyday wear with uniform
• Men’s T-shirts and underwear (all sizes)
• BROWN or GREEN colors for the T-SHIRT if possible.  Proper issued military t-shirts can also be acquired at Army Surplus stores.
• Women’s sport bras and panties (all sizes)

Suggested Fun Time Materials

• Balls:  soccer ball, baseballs, basketballs, volley ball sets, football
• Batteries: AA- C -D -9 volt
• Beanie Babies or stuffed animals (new please)
• Board Games
• Playing Cards
• CD Player with CDs / send batteries
• Dart Board with darts
• Disposable cameras
• DVDs (you can tape from television too)
• Electronic/Battery Hand held games (include batteries)
• Frisbee
• Greeting Cards they can send back home (variety)
• Mag flashlight bulbs,
• Mailing Envelopes (no stamps) / Pens with stationery
• Magazines (all kinds)
• Mini Hand-held Fan or Water Misty fan
• Nerf Balls
• Packaged Poker Sets
• Plastic bowls, spoons, forks, knives
• PlayStation with games
• Puzzle Books/Word Find Books
• Sewing Kits
• Small flash light for reading at night
• Water guns
• X-Box with games
• Yo-Yo’s
• Zip Lock Bags & Plastic lock containers for sealing leftovers and personal items

(from adoptaplatoon.org)