Balloons Finding Mandee has ideas on how to include balloons, but you could start by only blowing them up enough to fit in the box. Extra credit: if you know your hero's favorite facial moisturizer (especially if they have sensitive skin),send that along, too. Sending care packages is a great way to show our deployed military heroes that we are thinking of them. Soldiers' Angels is ready to help you through your deployment with morale-boosting support and much-needed supplies. Whether you're looking for ideas of what to include, ideas for fun themes for your care package, or ideas on how to send the care package on the cheap, we have you covered. As we always say, smaller individual servings are always best! Register For Support Now. Game of Thrones, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, or Parks and Recreation. Get them a color besides black, because the black ones are common, and having a different color will make it harder to get mixed up with the crowd. While any care package is appreciated, there is something extra special about opening a box to decorations or an amusing theme. If you're vague and honest, you'll be fine! Our service members work hard, and a source of quick, high quality protein is always great to help keep them going. They are a great way to take a short break, and sometimes movies are just too long to have the time to watch. As you are gathering your items dont forget to decorate the inside of the box! For some solitary down time, check out puzzle books, like crossword puzzles or sudoku. You can pick up free Priority Mail boxes at your post office. Let's come together to let deployed service members know we're thinking of them! This will really blow the care package out of the water for the service member that receives it! These are a welcome item in any care box, especially for the hero that spends their whole day on their feet. Other great options are Here are some of the fun and creative ways the Soldiers Angels Angel volunteers decorate their care packages: Want to join Soldiers Angels and adopt a service member to send care packages to? 2895 NE Loop 410, Suite 107 Know the timeline. "Even though some of the issues were old, I didn't really care. Batteries. Since she couldn't mail real chicken n' hot wings, she substituted with flavored chips. Soldiers' Angels relies on the generosity of these amazing individuals, corporations, and foundations. Quick protein. We like thevariety pack pictured here because it's affordable, and had a great mix of things as well. Make sure to include some news of home and some words of encouragement. Be sure you have the unit name, including the battalion, ship, squadron, platoon, etc., with the nine-digit ZIP code, if one is assigned. Priority mail packages typically take about 10 to 14 days to reach their country of destination. We like these charcoal bags because they are discreet, work continuously, and absorb odors, even in close quarters. Take things to the next level by throwing in gourmet popcorn, or if you decide to send bagged popcorn, include some popcorn flavoring so they can change things up. In cold months, send hot beverage mixes such as cocoa, instant coffee, tea bags and creamer. These are more "nuts and bolts" type things, so skim it now, but flag it to come back later once you need the information: What do you think? "Even though some of the issues were old, I didn't really care. We like this Jumbo book, since it has a variety of puzzles and won't get too old. Soldiers' Angels is governed by a Board of Directors and also seeks guidance from an Advisory Council of business leaders from across the country. It has its own filter built in for an easy pour-over experience on the go--just what a military member needs! Time in the outside world tends to stop on deployment, so most service members won't know the difference or care, since either way, the information will be new. Quick sources of protein are also always appreciated. Other great options are, There are all kinds of drink mixes out there- powdered, Reading material is another great idea for solitary downtime. Better to send smaller, more premium items. Nights in the desert, nights at sea, and duty stations in cold climates leave many service members exposed to cold temperatures. It's a little bit of their home routine in a bottle! Hand warmers are air activated and can help keep feet and hands warm, and they'll last through an entire shift. Our tried and tested favorite is Soldiers' Angels hosts monthly food distributions providing food assistance to low-income, at-risk, and homeless veterans in six cities across the country. The climate heats up rapidly between winter and spring and the temperature inside mail storage facilities may rise to over 120 degrees. "I ate so much beef jerky while deployed, but it helped when I was starving between meals," one Marine told us. We recommend the same one as Amazon-- it's has 35,000 more reviews than the other models for a reason. Take a look at a snapshot of the work we accomplished over the past year, including our most recent financials and impact. We're putting an end to that. You never know when a headache or stomach ache will strike, and your loved one will be grateful to have travel sized medicine readily available. You know you want to send some love to a soldier overseas The hard part is What do you send?, May no soldier go unloved May no soldier walk alone May no soldier be forgotten Until they all come home. Size AA and D batteries are in high demand. The address should include your service member's full name (with or without rank or rating), unit and APO/FPO (Air/Army Post Office or Fleet Post Office) address. The best ones to send along are, Surprisingly, DVDs are still at a premium on deployment. It's hard to keep things fresh, and it's so much easier to store unopened snacks, and they're more compact as well. 2021 Hero Care Packages. Many service members pass the time by working out and focusing on their fitness. Should You Invest in the TSP Mutual Fund Window? Soldiers' Angels offers many ways for you to make a difference in the lives of our military service people and their families. While the military provides sunscreen, some service members don't like it's thick, chalky texture, and so they'll skip it. Soldiers' Angels volunteers work within VA Hospitals across the country to provide comfort and resources to veteran patients. Dude Wipes are FAR better. And from then on out, each military care package I got had a couple of beat-up baseballs in it. Space saving is always a must, and having all of your books electronically is a great option. Crackers, chips, nuts- every military member loves to get some snacks. Spouses of disabled veterans are eligible for many benefits, but getting them can be difficult. It's a common question: after all, most of us have never been in deployed, so it's hard to come up with military care package ideas, and even harder to know what to put in a care package. (Yes, this is a real photo of me out at sea.) Your privacy matters. During warmer months, sweetened drink mixes such as lemonade and iced tea will be welcome. It was the feeling I got when I received it from someone I didnt even know. Matt. I remember tearfully offering it to my father as he left--the only thing a little boy could think to give his Dad. Our Veteran Support Program assists veterans through a variety of different programs, including providing assistance at VA Hospitals across the country. It's harder to store a tub, it goes bad faster, and it's impossible to slip into a pocket. Toiletries. National Guard Members Returned from Overseas this Winter. But theMonopoly Deal card game, which is a 15-minute version of Monopoly, is hands down the most fun game we've played. Place items that may spill or leak in heavy plastic zipper-lock bags. The world is always changing, and so is the work we do at Soldiers Angels. Fax: 210-629-0024. Our tried and tested favorite is, Heroes can never have too many travel sized portions of their favorite shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, or lip balm. Register to volunteer today! It's great for re-watching over and over, and unlike some other TV shows, if the service member misses an episode or two, they can jump right back in. Usually, people send baby wipes, but these Over the moon!! So, what does every birthday need? Use reusable packing material. Snack cakes, cheese crackers and cookies are in high demand. Spouses of retirees are eligible for many benefits, but getting them can be difficult. San Antonio, TX 78218 Photographs, drawings, and DVDs of your activities at home will be comforting to your service member. Sure, you can use our service to send a care package, or you can pick from our (amazing!) If you're sending a battery-operated device, remove the batteries so the appliance doesn't accidentally turn on during shipment. It's usually a necessary break from the stressful times. Here are some things to send: Who doesnt like seeing images of our heroes enjoying some much-deserved downtime playing games or having fun? Depending on their location it could be anywhere from 10 days to two weeks. If your service member is in the Middle East or the Persian Gulf areas, you should not send anything that would offend people of the Islamic faith, including pork or pork by-products, obscene material, religious materials contrary to Islam, anything depicting nude or semi-nude persons, pornographic or sexual items, alcohol, or non-authorized political materials. These are a welcome item in any care box, especially for the hero that spends their whole day on their feet. They're also a great alternative to unhealthy soft drinks, and are good to add in some flavor to everyday drinking water. Soldiers' Angels is committed to being financially transparent and fiscally responsible. Sending food or drinks is a little trickier. We like the Moleskin notebooks as well asField Notes. If your service member has the big screen blues, send them a movie-themed box or a box themed after their favorite movie! Jennifer and her husband are Patriots fans, and even though they aren't playing in the Superbowl this year, she was able to include a funny and relevant meme! Your service member will appreciate anything that can be mixed with water. Join us as we video interview members of the military community. Collect care package items or shop for most-requested items from the wish list. Soldiers' Angels has teams of Angels who provide support to military families. Cards have a tradition in the armed forces. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Soldiers Angels is a national 501(c)3 charity, gifts to which are tax-deductible as allowed by law. Two of our team members remembered Cranium as their top game on deployment, so it gets our #1 nod. Individually packaged baby wipes, eye drops, lip balm, lotion, aspirin or another pain reliever, feminine hygiene products for women. Personal care. Many military installations have a very limited selection of snack items available for the service members. But if I learned one thing from the service, it's that you should listen to your service member! Your service member will appreciate these if he or she is deployed in the desert. You could also include small but practical items to help them reach their fitness goals resistance bands, sweat-wicking clothes, and cream or spray to ward off chafing and blisters. It's best to limit your care packages to the size of a shoebox. Surprisingly, DVDs are still at a premium on deployment. Imagine how excited you would be to get a box of your favorite cookies after youve just been eating MREs for weeks!! Donate or collect much-needed care package items to support service members deployed to combat zones. Sending some protein and encouragement, as Lexi Abbott did, will be sure to lift your service member's spirits while they're lifting weights. Before putting together your service member's care package, find out what they want, and check to see if there are restrictions on what you can send. We recommend the complete series of The Office. Salty snacks are good for those deployed in the desert, especially in the summer months, because they will encourage your service member to drink more water. This is a great way to add a personal touch and make your care package truly unforgettable! DVDs are often a great source of relaxation. For men, we like the Another option for off time: travel sized games.