I run an organization called Soldier’s List. It is responsible for making sure that Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines have the support that they need while being deployed as well as at home. Recently, I’ve encountered quite a few questions about what should be put in care packages and I thought it might be helpful to have a blog where ladies and gentlemen can add their thoughts.

My general rule of thumb is that care packages should be personalized and appropriate. If you are sending to a Sailor, the package will look very different compared to that sent to a Marine currently in the desert. Obviously, no live ammo or small pets, please.

I will begin a list of staples and I encourage others to add to it so we can give people ideas.

toiletries (for the desert folk: baby wipes, eye drops, hand sanitizers, etc.)

magazines

newspaper cuttings of current events, funny articles, comics, hometown heroes, etc.

paper/pens/pencils/colored pencils/coloring books

cake in a can (already baked, but sealed for your Service Member to open on a special occasion)

hard candy/jerky/Twizzlers/powdered drinks

DVDs/CDs

And….I’ll let you all take it…

Over and out…