Suggested items to send to AnySoldier:
Note: The weather is much colder now, freezing at night, 40's-50's daytime.
Send warm stuff!!
Food:
HeaterMeals
These are really good meals that have a heater and everything, just right for the cold weather! HeaterMeals is offering a special price to folks helping the AnySoldier effort, click here to read all about it.
Call 800-503-4483, ask for the sales department and tell them you want to send meals to the AnySoldier effort, they do the rest.
They even put a note inside saying who sent it if you want.
Send troops in the middle of nowhere the ability to have a hot meal, when they need it, at a VERY good price!!!
(Just a thought - These may seem a bit expensive at first, but if you buy a few cans of food, add the boxing and shipping cost, you will see that this really is a very cost-effective way to get a soldier a complete meal. And it's a hot meal!)
Breakfast-type foods and drinks are the most needed. They don't get that meal (they get an MRE)!
Instant and regular coffee.
Coffee makers, hot plates.
Hot chocolate packets (instant, in packets, add to water).
Campbell's chunky soups, chicken, beef, etc.
Canned tuna.
Canned Chef Boyardee ravioli, beefaroni, spaghetti & meatballs, etc.
(Note: In the 'Zip-Top' or easy to open cans.)
Canned fruit - that comes in the small flip top cans. (Put zip-top cans in a plastic bag!)
Beef jerky, Slim Jims.
Canned nuts.
Canned chips, like the potato sticks or the small canned Pringles, Doritos, etc.
Cereal bars, granola bars, Special-K bars, etc.
Pre-sweetened powdered drinks, Kool-Aid, Gatorade, etc.
Lil Debbie snacks, brownies, snack cakes, etc, nothing with icing that will melt.
Packs of candy, gum, trail mix, etc.
Home-cooked anything (that does not go bad quickly.)
Note: Due to concerns for the health and safety of the soldiers, and as much as we don't want to say this, please do not send home-cooked anything to soldiers other then to your relatives or people who know you. Factory packaged only. Sorry. The soldiers are told to throw away anything that is not in a factory package.
(Basics: Easy to open, easy to eat, quality and healthy foods are best.)
Personal Hygiene Items:
Antibacterial wipes - lots of these!
Small tubes of toothpaste and toothbrushes, deodorant, soap, shampoo.
Eye drops - the cleaning kind - because of all the sand storms...(Put in plastic bag!)
Small containers of Tylenol, Motrin, etc.
Band Aids, cough lozenges, small packs of Kleenex, shower-to-shower powder.
Flip flops - shower shoes - so they can air their feet out when they get a break.
Anti-fungal for their feet - athletes foot creme, foot powder - no aerosol bottles.
Combs, paper, pens, envelopes, lip balm, eye drops, q-tips, nail clippers.
Remember the many women soldiers there! If your package is intended for a woman, be sure to address the package to the Chaplain (address below) with, "Attn: Any Female Soldier".
(Basics: small and easy to carry, disposable and anti-bacterial.)
Entertainment:
Beanie Baby toys for the soldiers to give to kids.
(Now you have a good reason to loose those things...)
Comics and paperback books, crossword puzzle books.
DVDs & CDs.
Game Boys, the ones your kids don't use anymore, and the games...
(Idea: Have your kids ask around to collect GameBoys and games they don't want anymore...)
Magazines; Cars, Sports Illustrated - preferably the swimsuit edition !! :)
Sports stuff (baseballs, footballs, old gloves, frisbees...)
(Basics: Small and light, uses AA batteries, nothing rechargeable.)
Misc:
Hand warmers! (The chemical types in a packet, foot warmers also. Need these now!
AA batteries - this is the only battery they are using - keep anything you send to use these.
Rechargeable AA batteries and chargers.
DEET insect spray.
Disposable cameras.
Flashlight - small, black or dark green, AA battery.
Music CD's. (Have a portable player you don't use anymore?)
Pens, paper, envelopes. (NO stamps! They get free mail.)
Phone cards (Not as needed as in the beginning of this, but good for emergencies.)
Small or inflatable pillows, self-inflating camping air mattress.
Small space heaters.
Space® "All Weather" blankets. (Find the ones with olive drab, tan or camo on one side.)
Space® "Emergency" blankets. (These are much smaller, easy to keep.)
(Basics: Again, think small and light weight. Be SURE to put items that might even possibly leak into a few zip-lock bags! ie. toothpaste, shampoo...)
From "Ranger Joe's"
(NOTE: This is NOT an advertisement for Ranger Joe's! We are waiting to see if Ranger Joe's will assist with this effort. I am looking for a source for these items at a better price. If you have one, PLEASE let me know!!)
#4581 - Gator Face Mask ($10.99)
#8310 - PS50 Watch Cap ($14.95)
#8049 - Lightweight PP Top ($14.99)
#8050 - Lightweight PP Bottom ($14.99)
#7810 - Quik Draw Boot Knife (LG)($32.95) -
Better Price ($25.97) here, or ($26.50) here.
#8577 - Hatch Operator Gloves ($42.99)
#8325 - Camelbak Viper ($79.99) -
Better Price ($59) here.