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i found these lists in an army wives group on another site.
i thought they were pretty helpful~


Themed Care Packages

"Surviving the Sandstorms"- Eye wash; Nasal spray; Chapstick; Bandana; goggles/sun glasses; etc

"Laundry Load"- Laundry soap ('sample Size or Tide tablets kind) to pack in with their clothes….in case there are no washer/dryers; Fabric softener sheets; clean socks and undershirts; Febreeze

"Lotta Java"- Tea; Cocoa; Coffee singles; creamer; sugar; International Coffee tins; cookies for dunking in coffee

"Thanks a Million!!"- Things that may "seem" expensive. Ex: Grey Poupon; electronic game of "Who wants to be a Millionaire?"; .

"Hang in There!"- Stuffed animal monkey; Banana bread; Banana chips; Banana pudding (the kind that doesn't have to be refrigerated); Monkey's in a Barrel game; card with a monkey on it.

"A Day at the Beach!"- sunscreen; beach towel; beach snacks; flip flop sandals (shower shoes); aloe vera gel;

"Medicine Cabinet"- aspirin; band-aids; Neosporin cream; A&D ointment; cold medicine; alka seltzer; Rolaids; etc.

"Staying Healthy"- nutrition/health bars (ex: Powerbar; Tigers Milk; Myoplex); vitamins; Nutri-grain bars; Gatorade or other sports drink (to stay hydrated);

"MRE/Mess Hall Survival Kit"- restaurant Size condiment packs of: bbq sauce, mustard, ketchup, mayo, relish, salt. Pepper, taco sauce, ranch, cheese in a can dip, etc

"Correspondence Carton"- notebook paper; stationery; pens; pencils; stickers (who knows they may even play with these!!); envelopes, address book (filled out already of course); camera (with a note to send back once it is full);

"Action Hero's"- Powerbars; squirt guns; Red Bull drinks; small Army figurines; comic books; Gatorade; Red Bull drinks; etc

"To Be A Kid Again"- silly string; bubbles; small bouncy balls; hacky sacks; brain teaser toys (rubix cube, etc); deck of cards; dominoes; slinky, Frisbee's; Pez w/ dispenser; Nerf balls; sand box toys (pail, small shovel, etc);

"Bathroom in a Box"- TOILET PAPER!!! (the soft stuff); razor refills; foot powder; bars of soap; fresh, clean, soft washcloth; travel Size shampoo/conditioner; toothpaste; toothbrush; etc

"Ruck Sack Snack Pack"- packed full of your loved one's favorite snacks….possibilities endless. Doritos; M&M's; nuts; chips; dips; crackers; jelly beans; beef jerky; gum; etc.

"Breakfast on the GO"- mutrigrain bars; instant oatmeal cups; small boxes of cereal; pop tarts; Hostess donuts: Otis Spunk Meyer muffins; cocoa; coffee; Tang;

"Tube O Tasties"- Just as something different…send a package in a tube instead of a square box. Make sure the parameters are acceptable though.
"Stress Reliever"- back scratcher; bubble wrap; yo-yo's; bubbles; squeezy tension ball;

"Sloppy Kisses"- since we know chocolate melts over there….send a bunch of Hershey's kisses. Bound to be "sloppy kisses!"

"I'm Nuts About You"- peanuts; cashews; pistachios; peanut butter cookies; any candy or cookies with nuts in them; Nutter Butter's; Peanut Lover's Chex mix; Fiddle Faddle with peanuts

"Rock On" or "Charlie ROCK"- pop rocks; music cd's

"Chili Today, Hot Tamale"- hot tamales (candy); small cans of chili; red pepper flakes (like the ones at pizza parlors); salsa sunflower seeds; Cajun flavor Pringles; Spicy chex mix; Boston red hots; peppered beef jerky; taco bell hot sauce packets; Extreme Doritos; chili powder; nacho cheese sauce in a can; Tums/Rolaids, Jalapeño Ritz

"And this little piggy went to the sandbox"- (foot care kit)- foot powder; Dr, Scholl's boot inserts; foot lotion; foot file; fresh, clean socks; toe nail clippers; scrub brush; odor eaters for shoes/boots; foot soaks (either include a small bucket or large Ziploc bags to soak feet it)

"How do you eat your OREOS??!!"- regular Oreos; peanut butter Oreos; double stuff Oreos; low fat Oreos; chocolate filled Oreos; chocolate covered Oreos; holiday Oreos

"Muchas Gracias…Nachos Supreme"- Doritos &/or Fritos &/or any corn tortilla chips; Mexican Velveeta; salsa (wrapped in bubble wrap); small can of olives (don't forget the can opener); bean dip; nacho cheese dip; small can of green chilies; jar of jalapenos (wrapped in bubble wrap); taco seasoning; small paper plates or bowls (so they can make their nachos); taco sauce (especially easy are those condiment packets from Taco Bell); You could also send the sauces from the various Mexican dinner kits (they also have tortilla's in those dinner kits that are sealed so they would probably get there without molding or drying out); Taco Bell Nacho Supreme kit

"Sweet Tooth"- Nerds; Gummy Bears; Laffy Taffy; Bubble Gum; Tootsie Rolls; Lolli pops; (any candy that won't melt)

"Pamper Party" (for females)- Feminine hygiene products; shampoo/conditioner; hair barrettes and scrunchies (same color as their hair); facial scrub &/or soap; facial mask; lotion; shower gel; razors; facial moisturizer; tweezers; nail care kit; toner; special facial products (alpha hydroxy; eye cream; etc);

"Congrats on your promotion"- congratulation party favors; all your loved ones favorites snacks; sparkled cider (wrapped in bubble wrap of course); etc.

"For the Fisherman"- Goldfish crackers; tuna pouches; canned smoked salmon; cans of sardines; gummy worms; Go Fish card game; Field & Stream magazine; electronic fishing rod game; Sponge Bob Square Pants stuffed toy; fishing game toy (made by several different toy companies. Has a small fishing pole with a magnet on the end. Fish have magnets on their mouths);

"Say CHEEEESE!"- disposable cameras; cheese dip; Doritos; Cheetos; Cheese nips; Better Cheddars; Velveeta;

"Kick Back & Relax"- Dominoes; playing cards; magazines; books; music cd's; crossword puzzles; jigsaw puzzles; word searches; hand held electronic games; squirt guns; water balloons; bubbles; hacky sacks; Nerf balls; board games (Axis & Allies, Clue, Trivial Pursuit, etc);

"Christmas in July"- wrap everything in Christmas wrapping paper; peppermint flavored hard candies;

"Italian Stallion"- Italian cheese Ghardetto's; Pizza-licious Pringles; Pepperoni pizza Combo's; small Boboli pizza bread; pizza sauce (for dipping Boboli); canned Ravioli, spaghetti, lasagna, etc;

"American Classics"- Pez with dispensers; Cracker Jacks; Lifesavers; Necco Wafers; Pop Rocks; Nerds; Good & Plenty; Candy Necklaces; Candy cigarettes

"Deployed on Thanksgiving"- canned turkey; instant mashed potato cups; hard breadsticks; gravy in a jar (wrapped in bubble wrap); Hostess apple pies; small can of corn (or other veggie); something special to cheer them up on

**Thanksgiving (pictures from home; magazines; tape recorded tape; small scrapbook; etc)


Packing
Put anything that could leak or melt or has a scent in an zipper-Style bag (zip lock bagging something along that line). DO NOT include food items in a care package with ANY hygiene items or chemicals of any type. If food is in the same box as something like soap in extreme heat, it can end up tasting like soap. So enclose hygiene items in a zipper-Style bag.

Use a sturdy box and cover all previous labels and markings with heavy black marker or adherive labels. (They can confuse and slow down processing). Fill all extra space with foam, peanuts, newspaper, bubble wrap or popcorn. Double tape all seams with strong packing tape.

I suggest using the USPS flate rate boxes. No matter which Flate Rate Box you choose, the postage is the same, regardless of weight and destination. This is anywhere in the U.S., and DOES include any APO/FPO mailing address as well. Call toll free to order free supplies: 1-800-610-8734. Boxes come in a couple different Size's and they also have envelopes.

You can also request a "CARE KIT" for mailing packages to the military by calling 1-800-610-8734. The kit contains 4 Priority Mail boxes, 6 Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes, 10 Priority Mail labels, 1 roll of Priority Mail tape, and 10 customs forms with envelopes. There is no charge for the kit.

Send in easy to handle boxes (say under 10 pounds). Big heavy boxes are just asking for trouble. Use heavy packing tape on all corners of the box, and wrap the tape so it goes all the way around in every direction of the box. Packages must wiegh less then 70 lbs and be smaller the 130 inches in total length and girth.

Take your package to the post office and fill out customs declaration and dispatch note. Postal services form 2976-A (Customs Form) is required for all mail weighing 16 ounces or more. In addition, mailers must properly complete required customs documentation on any potentially dutiable mail addressed to an APO or FPO regardless of wieght.

All mail is subject to X-ray so fill out a customs form accurately. Not putting on there that there is an electrical device and putting a few bars of soap in may cause an innocent package to be blown to bits because it looks like an explosive device of some kind.

In the upper left corner, write your complete return address (packages without return address might be discarded).

It is recommended that you stop sending packages to your troop one month before they are expected home. Military bases usually stop all mail one month before redeployment.

Suggested items:

FOOD ITEMS
Slim Jim's
Cracker's.... Ritz, ETC
Chips (best in tubes as bags can burst)
Little Debbie snack cakes
Rice krispie treats
Dry Cereal
Kraft Easy Mac
Microwave Popcorn
Beef Jerky
Granola bars
Dried fruit
Chex Mix
Canned food (ring pull top kind)
Tuna or Chicken (canned or in a pouch)
Spices
Oatmeal
Salsa
Salad Dressing
Instant soups
Fast food condiments
Ramen noodles & cup a soup
Pop Tarts
Sugar (in packets or cubes)
Nuts
Trail Mix
Sauces... Hot sauce, ETC
Instant Rice
Cereal (small boxes)
Instant Pastas
Pretzels
DRINKS
Instatnt Coffee
Powdered Gatorade
Powered Hot Chocolate
Kool-aid (presweetened)
Tea bags
Coffee creamer (dry)
Instant Ice Tea
Cyrstal Light packets
CANDY ETC
Hard Candy
Bubble gum/chewing gum (not stick for they can melt in the heat)
Lollipops
Marshmallows
Roll aids
Cough drops
Twizzlers
Life Savers
TOILETERY/HYGIENE/FIRST AID (FOR ALL)
Clorox wipes
Baby Wipes
Razors (Disposable)
Shaving gel (no areosols please)
Shampoo
Conditioner
Soap
Body wash
Deoderant
Eye drops
Chapstick
Lip Balm
Sun Block
Skin so soft (Avon) or similar
Baby lotion
Baby powder
Combs/brushs
Cotton Balls
Liquid Hand sanitizer
Contact lens cleaner
Nail files
Hand Warmers
Nyquil & Dayquil
Tissues (handy packs)
Toilet tissue
pain med's... Advil, Excedrin, ETC
Wash clothes (dark colors)
Hair gel
Band aids
Bug spray
Q-Tips
DENTAL
Toothpaste
Toothbrush
Mouth wash
Dental Floss
Breath mints
CORRESPONDANCE
Office Supplies
Paper
Envelopes
Journals
(Note: Our troops do not need stamps as they're in war zones & may send mail home for free)
GAMES
Puzzles
Yo-Yo's
Travel Games
Playing cards
Puzzle books
Frisbees
Hackie sacks
OTHER
DVD'S
CD'S
Phone Cards
Paperback Books
Magazines
Batteries (D, AAA, AA mostly)
Disposable cameras
Handmade items
Comics & jokes
Hats (for hot & cold weather)
Bandanas
Nose spray
Travel wash detergent (cold water)
Pictures drawn by children
Letter from yourself
Seasonal Items... for Easter, 4th of July, Christmas, ETC
Sweat bands (to wear under helmet)
Sewing kits (travel Size)
Pipe Cleaners
Plastic spoons, forks, knives
Paper plates
Ziploc bags (various Size's)
Duct tape
Fly strips
Fly swatters
Insoles for shoes

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE FOLLOWING CAN NOT BE SENT:
Pressurized items
Chocolate or anything that can melt
Pornographic material
Alcohol
Religious Material
Anything that contains PORK
No WAR type materials or toys

Care Package Ideas

The following list includes a number of ideas for putting together a Care Package that can be sent to deployed service members – single or married - who can always use a little bit of home-away-from-home.

OBVIOUS IDEAS: cookies, fudge, brownies, magazines, newspaper clippings, joke books, razors/blades, pictures, cartoons, recorded “letter”, self addressed envelopes.

NOT SO OBVIOUS IDEAS: puzzles, popcorn-balls, nuts, Tylenol/aspirin, flavored coffees/teas/cocoas, trail mix snacks, health food snacks, snack sausages, boxed munchies, jerky, art made by children, music tapes/CDs, schoolwork, shampoo, shoe insole cushions, food gift boxes, candy, stamps, VCR home movies, games, playing cards, crafts made by children, dry soup mixes, blank paper, chewing gum/mints, cheeses/crackers, blank audio/VCR tapes, taped TV shows, muscle liniment (Ben Gay, Deep Heat)

MAYBE YOU WOULDN’T THINK OF THESE IDEAS: local newspaper, magazines, travel alarm (battery separate), hand made gifts, batteries, canned meat, models (cars, planes), hand lotion, lip saver ( Blistex, Chapstick), hand wipes or sanitizer (WetOnes, Wash 'n Dry ),Church Newsletter, Base Publication, sealing containers (Rubbermaid, Tupperware) to keep things fresh and bug free.

It should be fine, as long as it's not obviously pornographic.

back in February around the time his ship was pulling out for deployment, i sent him a package. i had gotten him some things a few weeks earlier when i went to down to Florida to visit family. i wrote him a letter, telling how i felt about him, i drew him a valentine (it was around valentine's day), stuck in a picture of myself since he didn't have one and the things i got him, one was a shirt and the other was a beanie owl that looked like hedgewig from harry potter. he's a HUGE harry potter fan and he LOVED it. he called me after he opened it and said "you get me", said even his mom doesn't get him. though he did open in front of people on his ship and got ragged on about the owl. he said he had to get me back for that but he still hasn't done anything