Ideas for things to ship to sailors

Since it's time to think about Christmas packages, here's part of an email I sent out this morning to some friends who wanted ideas. Thought some of you could use them, too.

My sailor just called and added to the list. He said on ship, they want jerky, Easy Mac, fruit cups. When deployed on land, he said neck travel pillows, wipes, and rechargeable batteries. I also remember sending him stuff for tooth aches and tooth putty for loosing a filling because he couldn’t get to the dentist right away. He gave away hundreds of kids’ mittens when he was in Afghanistan, too. Right after Christmas, I bought little ones at Jewel/Osco 3 for $1. At Kohl’s I bought little kid fleece jackets and sweatshirts for about $3 that he gave a few kids, too. I’d guess you could go to Goodwill and Salvation Army, too.

Here are some ideas that were sent from a sailor on ship deployment. It’s a good general list that most deployed would like getting. If you pack things in ziplock baggies, they use the baggies for other things. I know they like sugary cereal for snacking, too. Beef jerky is like gold on a ship—Sam’s has the cheapest price. Little cans of fruit and tuna/chicken packets are always welcome, too.

I used to send fragrance free wipes—used to clean weapons as well as themselves—and the softest toilet paper I could find—take out the cardboard roll to pack in the box or fill it with something like batteries. My son also told me to add them to the list. He said that the lemonade is the best--like Crystal Lite. How could I have forgotten the dozens of boxes of those that I sent! You can find store brand. (Thanks, Navy Mom Michelle for reminding me too.)

He also told me that some of the guys like Vienna sausages. Aldi's carries a canned chicken and dumplings and stew that aren't too bad. Use the flat rate boxes to ship several. If the person is outside the wire, include plastic forks and spoons.

The best places to shop that I've found--Sam's, Dollar General (any of the "dollar" type stores), Aldi's, K-Mart and Wal-Mart

White t- shirts,
Hanes Boxer Briefs comfort waistline,
Old spice deodorant,
Gillette razors the 5 blade kind,
beef jerky,
body wash and fluffy thing, [I love his description!]
lotion,
cookies,
any kind of snack food,
febreeze,
a new pillow