Care packages are a great way to show your support! There are so many organizations that send packages that we had to dedicate a separate page to list them all. Scroll down for more information.
Here are some resources to give you some guidance in sending your care package, as well as a listing of some of the many organizations that support our deployed military personnel with packages. These organizations depend on supporters like you to do what they do!
Suggestions of what to send and what NOT to send:
If you wish to send a care package to soldiers overseas, that there are a number of factors to consider:
- time of year (It's not a good idea to send chocolate to the Middle East in the summer)
- location (Some of our military personnel serve in remote locations with minimal access to a store to purchase basic supplies, some are less remote and have access to more ammenities, and some that are stationed in a location such as Qatar may have even less needs.)
- gender of the military personnel (There are organizations the reach out specifically to female military personnel.)
- personal preference (If you know the deployed Soldier, ASK them what they'd like!)
Do not send:
- pork and other culturally sensitive items
- alcohol
- pornography
- items restricted by the postal service
Regardless, any kind of separation from friends and family is tough and receiving some love from home by way of a care package is always appreciated!
Army Wife Network has a great list of suggestions of what you can send.
Taste of Home also offers suggestions in creating your care package.
Cakes and cookiessubmitted by Joanne K.
submitted by Joanne K.The best way I have found to ship cookies requires:
Waxed paper2 - Ziploc large rectangular disposable containers4-8 slices of bread1 - US Postal Service shirt size Flat Rate boxPack the cookies in the Ziploc containers using wax paper between the layers. After the last layer of cookies or brownies, top with waxed paper and slices of fresh bread until the container seals tightly and the contents do not rattle. (Note: Do not use homemade bread. The preservatives in the bread are needed to keep the bread from molding during shipping.)
Place one container upside down and one container right side up in the Flat Rate box. They will fit snugly and not rattle. The bread will dry out during shipping, but the bake goods will remain moist and intact.
Cake in a jar (Article)
A nice way to send your Soldier a birthday cake in a jar. It is hard to have a Soldier away on their birthday so we have a way for you to get them that cake while they are overseas.
Cupcakes
It is notoriously hard to ship cupcakes. When trying to ship cupcakes, there is that pesky problem of keeping the cupcakes from turning upside-down and the gift arriving as a frosted box rather than frosted cupcakes.
So how do you ship cupcakes? Read the article for more information.
Christmas ideas submitted by Joanne K.
submitted by Joanne K.One Mom's list of suggestions of items to include in a Christmas care package:
- For Christmas I try to put in little touches of home. Christmas foods like candy canes, carmel corn, cookies, etc. When my niece was deployed, I sent her Christmas socks along with the goodies. She loved that! Last year I sent another Soldier some funny little non-breakable ornaments. He really liked that.
- Personalized calendar with family photos and special days marked.
- Letter writing materials, printed address labels to make mailing things home easier
- Phone cards - AT&T, cards from AAFES work the best
- Cards for different occasions so that the soldier can send them home to loved ones for various occasions.
- Favorite foods that can be shipped
- Snacks Bars, Beef Jerky, Chex Mix, chips
- Cereal (small box)
- Nuts/Dried fruit/pudding and fruit cups
- Hard or non-melting candies
- Powdered drink mixes such as Gatorade (To Go Single Serve are great)
- Toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap
- Deodorant, disposable razors
- Qtips, Handi Wipes (travel size are ok)
- Baby wipes (refill packages are great bargains)
- Eye drops - non-prescription, moisturizing
- Towels and wash cloths, travel pillow
- Psalm 91 Bandana (see Bandanas)
- Bed sheets (Twin) - deploying soldiers must purchase their own and ship them early
- Paperback books and magazines
- Puzzle books and playing cards, batteries
- Digital cameras and media storage disks
- CD's and DVD movies (American standard)
- Sports items such as baseball caps/balls, footballs, volleyballs, soccer balls etc.
- Posters for the barracks, lots photos of loved ones, favorite sport teams
- stuff to hang up, etc.
- Christian materials may be sent for the personal use of American personnel but not for distribution to the locals
Other Themed Care Package Ideas
Military Missions - Birthday care package idea
4 Military Families
All Military.com
Army Wife 101 - Christmas care package tutorial
Army Wife 101 - Easter care package tutorial
Army Wife 101 - Halloween care package tutorial
Army Wife 101 - Thanksgiving care package tutorial
Army Wife Network
Military.com
Military SOS
Veterans United - Mini care packages (13 oz. or less)
Other
____________________________________________________________________
Military Postal Service Agency
Our mission is to achieve postal service excellence throughout the Department of Defense by promoting the efficient, economical transportation of mail; by ensuring the effective operation of military post offices; and by providing sound management of the official mail program. Site includes Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait mailing information as well as lost military parcel procedures.
United States Postal Service - Holiday mail schedule to send mail/packages to APO/FPO address
USPS lists various deadlines to send mail/packages to arrive to an APO/FPO address in time for Christmas.
United States Postal Service - Free shipping kits and discounts to APO/FPO addresses
The Large Flat Rate Box can be shipped to an APO or FPO address for $10.95 (a savings of $2).
FREE SHIPPING SUPPLIES: The USPS will supply pre-packaged Priority Mail supplies for shipping care packages to members of the U.S. military stationed overseas. Each supply kit will generally include: 4 Priority Mail Flat-Rate "shoe box"-type shipping boxes, 6 Priority Mail Flat-Rate "garment box"-type shipping boxes, 10 Priority Mail labels, 1 roll of Priority Mail tape, and 10 customs forms with envelopes. To order, call 1-800-610-8734, select option #1 ("Express Mail, Priority Mail or Global Express Guaranteed products"), and ask a customer service agent for CAREKIT04 (or a "military kit").
____________________________________________________________________
AdoptaPlatoon (New Hampshire)
AdoptaPlatoon strives to provide a better deployment quality of life by sending cards, letters and care packages to lift the morale of Troops as they serve far from home and assist military families. AdoptaPlatoon provides an on-going mail support system, creates projects that meet the need of military requests, and establishes special projects that benefit deployed Troops representing all branches of the U.S. military. AdoptaPlatoon also serves injured Troops through AAP Walking Wounded Project and assists military veterans who remain our Nation’s Heroes. Project created by the AdoptaPlatoon™.
Adopt A Soldier Platoon (New Jersey)
Improves the morale of the Troops by sending care packages. Also includes care package suggestions and tips on how to pack a care package box (link).
Airborne Angel Cadets of Texas (Texas)
A Texas charity sending care packages of food, gifts, clothing, toiletries, movies, toys for local kids, medical supplies and other donations to American soldiers and troops serving in the United States Armed Forces in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Mideast!
America's Adopt a Soldier
Annual year-round support and Challenge America (July, November- National Packing events). Our goals are to ensure every deployed Service Member receive a care package, through regional and local partnerships.
Any Soldier (Any Marine - Any Sailor - Any Airman - Any Coast Guard)
Have no idea what to send, who to send it to, or where to send it?
A Soldier's Wish List (Missouri)
Our goal is to fulfill the wishes of our troops to the best of our abilities. This is our small way of letting our brave troopers know that we care about them and appreciate their sacrifices.
We conduct fundraisers, sell merchandise, and collect donations to finance sending care packages to our troops. We also match troopers to volunteers who would like to send care packages to their own "adopted" trooper.
AvonCares - USO Giftset
For the 6th consecutive year, Avon will partner with the USO to send special Operation Avon-USO Cares gift sets to our men and women in uniform deployed worldwide. These special gift sets will be included in Operation USO care packages.
The Avon gift sets are two for $10 and include five items service members request most: Skin-So-Soft moisturizing shower gel, On Duty 24 hour roll on deodorant, moisture therapy lip balm, Advance Techniques 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner, and Moisture Therapy mini hand cream. At a minimum, a complete USO care package includes a prepaid international phone card, snacks, playing cards, reading material, sun block, hand sanitizer, tooth paste, tooth brush, sunscreen and other requested and needed items.
To sponsor an Operation Avon-USO Cares gift set, call your local Avon Representative or log on to www.Avon.com to find an Avon Representative.
Boatsie's Boxes (West Virginia)
The purpose of Boatsie’s Boxes, Inc. is to prepare and ship care boxes filled with needed items to the United States Military when they are deployed in support of Contingency Operations. On average, we ship 50 boxes each week.
Care Package Project for Marines (Missouri)
Help the troops overseas! We currently ship over 1000 care packages five to six times a year to Marines stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Our database grows daily as Marines send us names of comrades who are not receiving mail or care packages from home. You can help get care packages of needed items to these Marines!
Care Pak Goods TM (Support Our Troops)
Support Our Troops® Care Paks™ enhance the morale and welfare of the deployed troops worldwide by seeking, receiving and shipping to the front lines care boxes containing items specifically requested by the deployed troops. This is especially important outside the established holidays.
Each box contains a note that the contents came from people here at home who know they're there, are grateful to them for protecting us, and care enough about them to send us these things to send them -- we're just coordinating things and getting it to them.
Catholic Care Package (Mission Capodanno)
Mission Capodanno is grateful to the donors and sponsors who make this Catholic Care Package program possible. Each kit is currently valued at $60 and includes Mission Capodanno's DVD FrontLine Families, In God We Trust CD, Fulton Sheen's Wartime Prayer Book, Rosary Meditations for the Military, Catholic New Testament pocket Bible, Fr. Capodanno holy card, rosary and more. This offer is extended exclusively to US military personnel, active duty, reserve and retired, and/or a member of his immediate family. May be requested by American soldiers for coalition personnel so long as the mailing address provided is FPO/APO/AE.
Cypress Cares
Cypress Cares is a group of about 100 Houston-area volunteers dedicated to providing community support for the troops who protect our freedoms, through care packages and letters of encouragement from those of us who are proud to be Americans.
Freedom Alliance
Do you have a loved one or friend who is thousands of miles away from home defending our country in uniform? If so, Freedom Alliance would like to send them a "Gifts from Home" care package, which will be a great reminder that you and a grateful nation have not forgotten them.
The Freedom Alliance “Gifts from Home” project provides those in harm’s way with some luxuries of home and expresses our appreciation for their sacrifice. It is our hope that the items sent will make life spent thousands of miles from friends and loved ones a little easier to bear.
These "Gifts from Home" boxes are full of most-requested and much-needed items, such as prepaid international calling cards, candy, toiletries, games, non-perishable food items, Germ-X hand sanitizer, books, magazines, DVDs, CDs, greeting cards and notes of appreciation and thanks from caring Americans all across the country, and much more. Last year, Freedom Alliance shipped more than seven tons of these care packages to our brave defenders of freedom serving overseas.
Give2TheTroops
Give2TheTroops® is comprised of military troops, family members, companies, organizations, schools, volunteers and donors - all who want to show their support for our troops. Since December 2002, we've supported approximately ONE MILLION deployed U.S. troops with loving care packages and letters from all over the nation.
Hearts Across the Miles
Hearts Across The Miles' goal is to make sure no Service Member goes to mail call only to feel forgotten. Please help us support our troops,so they never feel lonely and disheartened. We owe our freedom to them. They are our Nation's heroes! Care packages for men or for women.
Hero Box
A HeroBox is a care package that has been customized to a soldiers specific request. The troops have certain needs and wants depending on their sex, location, and a variety of other factors. The typical care package that a soldier receives isn't always influenced by those needs and wants. Our goal is to make sure that each HeroBox is directly influenced by the soldier.
Homefront Hugs
Has tips for sending care packages as well as a Soldier adoption program.
H.O.M.E. Helping Our Military Everywhere
"Because we feel that every member of our Military deserves something from HOME!"
It is our mission to provide those service members currently deployed to various locations around the world and our Hometown Heroes (Veterans) with a mail call program. A program designed to provide a weekly "mail call" along with care packages.
If you would be interested in becoming a HOME'y (Adopter) please visit our HOME'y section of the website for more information.
If you are service member currently deployed or a Hometown Hero please visit our Deployed/Hometown Heroes section for the website for more information.
Hugs 4 Smiles USA
When you volunteer, Hugs4SmilesUSA assigns you a deployed hero's family and/or the hero, or military personnel in need of suuport. You then send the hero two care packages, Packaged Hugs, each month. If the soldier's family has also been adopted, they receive one package each month.
More importantly, between the Packaged Hugs, you correspond with them as well. We hear over and over again from these troops that, believe it or not, these kind words--through email, card, or letter--mean the most. They are always touched that a total stranger is willing to reach out with kindness and generosity, when in their eyes, they are "just doing their job."
If you or a loved one is facing deployment, or are already in a deployment situation, and are seeking adoption, please contact us. You are the very reason Hugs4SmilesUSA exists. Keep in mind that we support both the deployed troops and their families as well. Let us send some Packaged Hugs to your family back home; they need something to smile about, too!
Hugs for Soldiers
Our program is dedicated to offering comforts from home and brightening a Soldier’s day with a care package, card or letter of encouragement. Our “adopted” troops, who are deployed thousands of miles away from home, need to be reassured that America cares about them. We appreciate the great sacrifices they are making, and we will do all we can to boost their morale and lift their spirits during this difficult time. We have been supporting the troops since 2003.
Jacob's Light Foundation
Our mission is to send our military overseas necessities and comforts from home. We focus on military without family or support from home. We also care for soldiers who’s families cannot afford to send boxes to their loved ones. We want to give them the support they need and to be a lifeline from America.
Kids in Support of Soldiers
Kids In Support of Soldiers Inc. (K.I.S.S), was founded with the desire of children to support our men and women in the armed forces by providing them with the simple things in life. Things we take for granted, or don't even think of, are priceless commodities to those serving.
K.I.S.S. is a program run by children, with the help of some adults, that want to make a difference in a soldiers life no matter what state they are from, or what branch of service they are in. All decisions are made by the children allowing them to comprehend the difference they are making and that this is THEIR program. Each package that is sent is sent to a particular soldier and is packaged by the children with love and appreciation for what the soldiers are doing for our freedoms.
Ladies of Liberty - Care packages for women (Soldiers' Angels)
The Ladies of Liberty team of Soldiers' Angels focuses on the needs of deployed female servicemembers. We understand that females are instrumental in the current war (as in the past), and make special efforts to support them in their missions while showcasing our appreciation for their service. We assist with supplies for their unique health and hygiene needs, and help them experience a few pampering moments to rejuvenate and "be good to themselves."
Lea's Prayers and Postage
We have chosen to honor my son with a fund that is used solely for generating paid postage for all of the patriotic people sending packages to our troops. Lea’s Prayers and Postage, Inc. has paid over $125,000.00 worth of postage since May 2006.
Letters to Soldiers
With the help of volunteers across the US and the world who write letters, make cards and banners and hand made items to send our brave and selfless deployed military men and women, we hope to show them that we have not forgotten their great sacrifices for us by shipping special care packages to them. We also collect support from the community for their families while they hold down the fort at home.
Military Connections
Military Connections is a non-profit organization that provides care packages, equipment and various supplies to the soldiers.
Military Missions
Military Missions is just one of many organizations that sends care packages overseas to our deployed military. but I like to think of this organization as one that is different from the rest. This ministry didn’t just open its doors one day and start sending out boxes. It started when this mother of a brand new Marine went to dinner one evening with her son and 15 other men who had just graduated from School of Infantry Training and entered the fleet...
Military Mom in Action
Our mission is to reach out and touch the lives of as many U.S. soldiers with support and encouragement as we can. We do this by sending them boxes of goodies and letters
"monthly" wherever they are around the world. We especially want to encourage those not receiving any or little support from home. We desire to lift them up giving them hope and the knowledge that someone cares.
Military Moms of Texas
Military Moms of Texas collects care packages to send to our deployed military personnel.
Military-Space (Adoption of Soldiers and families)
This organization is run worldwide by volunteers working to ensure deployed U.S. Service members in all branches of the military, and their families, are not forgotten. We develop special projects for holidays and other occasions, provide individual morale-lifting mail support around the world, and encourage patriotism in schools and communities. We are committed to creating projects that meet the needs of soldiers, sailors, marines and their families based on their requests.
MissYourVoice - Send a Smile!!
Here at MissYourVoice we want to help make sure all of our service men and woman feel loved and cared about!!
Some people dont realize that it is something as simple as a care package, or a letter that can make the difference between a deployed service member having the will to stay safe out there or not. We understand that at MissYourVoice!! Which is why we have created the "Send a Smile" donation fund!! Every month MissYourVoice will send out as many care packages to various deployed troops as we can! Even the smallest donations help!
So if you don't have a service member to send a package to at this time, and still want to show your support for our troops, simply donate any amount to our "Send a Smile" donation fund. All of the donations will go straight to sending care packages to our deployed troops!!
Mollys Adopt A Sailor
Molly's Adopt a Sailor Project, a broad based, collaborative and community initiative to support deployed United States Military Personnel by way of cards, letters, and care packages filled with love, support, and necessities from home.
Move America Forward - Monthly Smiles Club
Lots of people seem to agree that it's easier to let us remember that they want to send a package out every month, or every other month, or every holiday than it is to go shopping themselves. Just give us criteria for selecting soldiers and your budget and we'll do the rest. Then you'll be sure no matter how busy you get, you're keeping those smiles coming.
We've heard from countless members of the Armed Forces serving in the Middle East about items that the military does not provide, are hard to come by and they really appreciate getting . That's why Move America Forward has responded and compiled care packages that contain these goods as a way of saying "thank you" for their sacrifices and courage. Care packages are packed full of gourmet coffee, Oreo cookies, Jelly Belly jelly beans, high-quality beef jerky, trial mix, Gatorade, deodorant, Chap Stick, sun block, CDs and much more.
Not Forgotten
NOT FORGOTTEN is a non-profit organization that exists to support our troops. Our Vision is to see soldiers return home to their families a better person; mentally whole and spiritually fulfilled. Our mission is to inspire, encourage, and lift the spirits of soldiers, while serving our country away from their families. It is often stated that “We are the land of the "FREE". Well we want to assure you that it is not FREE. There is a price being paid for our freedom. Freedom is not FREE. Our troops are being sent to Iraq and Afghanistan and are suffering tremendous losses. Troops are constantly being injured and often times, lose their lives for the cause of freedom. Even if a troop comes back without any physical damage, they return with mental damage.
We are reaching out for help to make our soldiers proud to serve our country and feel appreciated in the process. There are various mailing and shipping laws that prohibit certain items from being sent. We have partnered with the United States Postal Services to verify what those items are. We are asking for your help by providing products, letters, or monetary donations.
Operation Care and Comfort
Historically, Americans have shown their support to our Troops serving in times of war in many ways. By writing letters, mailing care packages, or by showing support for a deployed service member's family, Americans have opened up their hearts, homes, and wallets to show that they support those who serve. Operation: Care and Comfort is proud to continue this tradition of service.
Operation Christmas Care TM and Adopt a Vet TM (Project Prayer Flag)
Since 2005, Operation Christmas Care™ and Adopt a Vet™, have responded to the needs of deployed U.S. Service members. Volunteers and ordinary Americans adopt a Military Veteran and send them care packages, and offer spiritual and emotional "one on one" support throughout their time in Military service. The project continues to grow and has been blessed with volunteers who have responded with open hearts. Each year thousands of U.S. Service members receive a care package from an ordinary American, who only wishes to thank them for their service and sacrifice.
Operation Combat Boot Comfort
The foundation for Operation Combat Boot Comfort is to support the needs of our deployed Marines and Troops.
My husband and I have two Marine sons with five combat deployments. When our youngest son deployed for the first time to Iraq in 2007 we quickly learned that there were many young men that needed support and many good Americans that wanted to support them. Since that time we have been sending many care packages, Christmas stockings and taking Welcome Home Bags to Marines returning from deployment. The current priority is to send fleece sleeping bag liners to our Marines in Afghanistan.
Operation Gratitude
Operation Gratitude is a non-profit, volunteer organization that annually sends 100,000+ care packages of items and letters addressed to individually named U.S. Service Members deployed in hostile overseas regions. Our mission is to lift morale, bring a smile to a service member's face and to express to our Armed Forces the appreciation and support of the American people. Each package contains donated product valued at ~$100 and costs the organization $11 to assemble and ship. Since its inception in March, 2003, Operation Gratitude has shipped more than 450,000 packages to American military deployed overseas.
Operation Helping Hand/American Angels
Operation Helping Hand Afghanistan was started in 2004 and is made up of volunteer Mom's, Dad's Veterans, Friends and Active Duty service members through out the United States. We want to reassure all members of the armed Forces that they are not forgotten by procuring support through mail, emails and care boxes and displaying continuous Patriotic standards in our city, towns and communities.
Operation Helping Hands
Operation Helping Hands for Heroes is a nonpartisan, non-political, patriotic nonprofit organization, which provides heartfelt help and gratitude through care packages and other remembrances of home to our military Heroes and their families currently deployed or serving stateside.
OHHH Packs offer heartfelt help for our Heroes. Packs contain essential care and comfort items including t-shirt, socks, washcloth/hand towel, toiletries, playing cards, CD's, DVD's, puzzle books and snacks to provide our Heroes a little comfort and conveniences of home.
Operation Hooah
A grassroots effort by mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, brothers, sisters, and friends to bring cheer and express gratitude to our brave soldiers serving in Afghanistan with Operation Enduring Freedom. Sends care packages for men, women or generic.
Operation Interdependence
What sets OI apart from other organizations is our philosophy that “less is more.” Our goal is to provide each of the nearly 325,000 deployed troops around the world with something from home every month during their entire deployment – and to do so without bogging down the military mail system or taking away from the mission. The OI Civilian-to-Military Delivery System ® reaches more by sending less.
The cornerstone of our system is the Civilian Ration ® (called C-rat ®). Designed for delivery to the frontlines, C-rats are individual quart-sized baggies that contain a personal note from a caring civilian at home and a few treats such as snacks, games and personal care products. The most important part of the C-rat is the letter from a person who has never met that Soldier, Sailor, Marine or Airman, but takes the time to write his or her expressions of care and concern.
Operation Love From Home
Operation Love From Home, Inc. is a not-for-profit, non-political organization that conducts holiday card drives for our American troops stationed overseas. We strive to provide a little bit of home and a whole lot of love to our brave men and women with Thank You cards and boxes of goodies collected from people all over the country. We hope that these small tokens of gratitude can make them feel that "home" is just a little closer.
Operation Military Pride
Operation Military Pride is a volunteer organization with a wide range of activities - all of which are to boost the morale of our troops deployed overseas. We not only send cards, letters and care packages ourselves, but also distribute troop names and addresses to patriots wanting to send cards, letters or care packages directly to the troops. We are one of the very few groups that allow direct contact with a service member, eliminating the "middle man" and expenses.
Operation Mom's Cookies
Our primary mission is to provide a place where families of those serving our country can find support, encouragement, solace, and be with others who share their heart. Support is what we are and what we do. An outreach of our support system is to also provide 'Little Touch of Home' packages to our troops serving worldwide. We have been actively doing this since 2001, shipping hundreds of thousands of boxes to wherever our troops may be stationed.
Operation Remember All
Operation Remember All is our fundraiser program to raise money to allow us to send care packages to Troops stationed in combat zones around the world. Through our donations that we collect during special events and more we will use this money to create care packages for the Troops. The care packages we send to our Troops around the world contain many items such as DVDs, games, perishables, and much more! We also include personal hygiene items such as toothpaste, anti-perspirant, etc.
Operation Shoebox
Sends care packages to the Troops. Looking for donations of AT&T phone cards and used printer ink cartridges. Currently looking for Teachers and Troops for for classrooms to correspond with troops.
Operation Show Our Love
Our mission is to improve the morale of our military personnel who are overseas fighting for our freedom and to let them know that those of us at home care about them and support them! We do this by collecting and shipping donations of snacks and toiletries to allow our troops to have a 'part of home' in a foreign land, and humanitarian items to distribute to the local population to build relationships that will help now as well as in the future.
Operation Soldier Assist
My hope and number one request is that you would adopt-a-troop. It means that you commit to writing a letter each week (not an email) so that your adopted troop get a physical letter at mail call, and sending a package once a month. I started OSA with the hope of getting our deployed personnel adopted out to the public, so that they would be encouraged while in Iraq, Afghanistan or any of the 100 plus countries we have troops stationed. We often get letters requesting adoption and support because the government hired contractors are charging way to much at the base stores. Some just wish to have someone to write to and visit with. Most need some sort of help with the items listed below. Items needed include: personal hygiene items, books, magazines, CD's, DVD's, boots, and new uniforms items. I know some may feel that boots and new uniform items are over the top, there NOT. Remember a gift is not a gift if it costs you nothing, and this is truly about helping those who defend our country and need support.
Operation Troop Appreciation
Operation Troop Appreciation presents a united front to our deployed military by providing a unit-level support with "wish-list" requests that contribute to troop morale.
Operation USO Care Package
Operation USO Care Package was developed to boost morale and provide a safe and secure way for the public to show their support for our troops. USO Care Packages are delivered to service members who are either in route to an overseas assignment or are currently deployed.
Operation We Care
We are a group of family and friends of local military personel and feel that we need to help make their deployment a little more comfortable in this 130 degree temperature plus environment! We send them items that they have requested.
Our Heroes Journey - Adopted Units
Our Heroes Journey is a hands on, "Boots On The Ground" program that adopts Units, Squadron and Battalions as they deploy and offers support to the service member, their families, spouses and children. We offer support before, during and after deployment.
Packages from Home
The mission of Packages From Home is to send care and comfort packages to deployed American military heroes who are stationed in active duty theaters around the world, as well as to facilitate activities that elevate morale of all veterans
Packs for Patriots (Sand Soldiers of America)
Packs for Patriots is a service initiative created to provide care packages to deployed military members stationed overseas.
Palmisano Care Package Project
In Loving Memory of LCpl. Eric A Palmisano KIA 4.2.06
Son, Brother, Friend, and most of all our Hero!!!
In April of 2006, when two care packages that my husband Herb and I had mailed to our son Eric in Iraq were returned to us as undeliverable, it was a harsh reminder that our son was gone. Only days earlier we had received that dreaded knock on our door by 2 U.S. Marines, coming to tell us that our son was killed in Iraq.
Now, as we stood there just staring at the packages, we knew we had to do SOMETHING. My husband, Herb, suggested that even though Eric could no longer use the items we had so lovingly packed for him in those Care Packages, his fellow Marines would most certainly have need for them. So we repackaged the items and sent them on to the Chaplain of Eric’s Unit in Iraq. Thus began the L.Cpl. Eric A. Palmisano Care Package Project.
We have shipped over 1600 Care Packages to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan since May 2006. Monetary donations are always welcome and appreciated to offset shipping costs!
Penpals and Packages (Keystone Soldiers)
Through our organization and website you can show your support by becoming a volunteer, holding a fundraiser, collecting items on our list for packages, writing letters and cards to our troops or sponsoring a care package (or several!). You may also make a donation to help with postage or you can sponsor a special care package to one of our troops. There are opportunities available for anyone interested in helping. Just pick up the phone and call us or send an email with Volunteer in the subject line.
Project Packages
Project Packages was founded by two ladies with a passion to support the troops to help time pass by deployment and grief. This page is designed to host auctions with donations from fellow businesses (fan pages) from all over Facebook and all across the world where all proceeds will go to sending care packages to the men and woman overseas.
Scion Military Care Package
Scion appreciates your service and dedication to defending our country.
We've put a box of Scion gear together with you in mind. We realize it isn't much compared to what you've given but we want to thank you for your support as you serve our country.
Scion Care Packages include some choice Scion swag like beanies, a deck of cards and a complimentary hour of internet access - exclusively for U.S. Military personnel only. Just fill out the request form below and we'll send one your way.
One care package per person every 12 months, please. Availability is limited - so step to it!
Send a Taste of Home
Our mission is to put smiles on the faces of those that choose to serve and protect our nation. We want to let them know that we at home appreciate what they are doing for us, that we love and support them! Adopts one unit a year and sends care packages.
Sister Soldier Project - Care packages for women
The Sister Soldier Project was born out of the desire to send "care packages" to the brave women serving our nation, containing various ethnic personal care products so important to their quality of life, products unavailable to them through normal channels, thus giving them at least a small taste of their "normal" lives back home.
So Help Me God Project
We regularly send care packages to deployed chaplains and servicemembers to help uplift the spirits of our bravest men and women serving all over the world. WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT.
We are looking for individuals, families, churches, organizations and businesses to partner with us by sponsoring a care package with inspirational resources for military chaplains and our troops. Our care packages contain thank you cards for the troops, inspirational books, music, and DVDs, Shields of Strength dog tags, Psalm 91 bandanas, pocket calendar cards, scripture cards, prayer cards, and other resources that inspire will faith and patriotism.
You can directly sponsor a specific chaplain, unit or servicemember and/or make a donation in honor or memory of someone.
Special Kindness in Packages (SKIP)
Special Kindness In Packages, Inc. ships personalized care packages and correspondence to deployed members of the U.S. military, and offers individually tailored support and guidance to military members and their families before, during, and after deployment.
St. Michael's Soldiers
St. Michael's Soldier's is a faith-based, not for profit ministry that provides "a little bit of home" to the deployed men and women of the US military. We do this through "Home Sweet Home" boxes, filled with items that are used everyday, but may not be readily available to those who have volunteered to protect our freedom; items like tooth brushes and tooth paste, soap, shampoo, shaving cream, deodorant, t-shirt, socks, blankets, food items, and prayer.
Thank You Soldier
We call them "Hero Packs." A simple title, but, hopefully, with your help, a wonderful touch of home and a reminder of your care. Those receiving these packages have a little extra surprise added to their day. Crammed full of "stuff from home," these packs will carry a message that says, "We're proud of you and we support what you're doing to keep us safe."
The Heart of a Marine Project
Join the many corporations that have gathered their employees for a most rewarding corporate service project: sending packages to our men and women in uniform stationed overseas.
Touch of Home
We seek to lift the spirits of our brave young heroes, in the Military, by sending packages containing requested items and letters, etc. We are truly a "Touch of Home" to thousands.
We mainly serve Forward Support Military, because they live under the most difficult conditions and have the least opportunity to access the larger PX's. We serve thousands through their chaplains, and referrals from one commander to another. We also ship our "Love" packages to friends and loved ones of our Supporters.
U.S. Tennis Association Adopt-A-Unit
Tennis communities are involved with Adopt-A-Unit (AAU), a program supporting units currently deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. If you know a unit interested in being adopted, please contact military@usta.com.
U.S. Troop Care Package
We send care packages to our Troops. We involve the community nationwide by encouraging volunteerism and by facilitating Americans desire to support our Troops deployed across the globe and to support our wounded Troops through Care Packages from home.
UK - Operation Pen Pal Support
Operation Pen Pal Support is a non-profit organisation that supports our UK and allied troops by sending care packages to raise their morale. We offer support to both military families and veterans. We offer new ways of living, food recipes (handed down by our ancestors) and friendship. This website will have supportive suggestions and help for those whom are 1st-timers in troop supporting! We welcome all soldiers of any regiment or country to join our "Support List", please mention if you want support or want to provide support.
UK - UK4U Thanks! - Christmas boxes (square stockings)
uk4u-Thanks! is a registered charity which provides Christmas boxes (sometimes affectionately known as the 'square stocking') as 'a gift from the nation' to all those serving in the forces overseas away from their families on Christmas Day. The charity is pleased and proud to have the Duke of Westminster as its Patron. Our mission is to deliver festive cheer to our forces risking their lives on our behalf at Christmas.
With Love from Home
Our main goal is to reach those serving over seas that are in need of some support. It is important that they know they are cared about & appreciated for putting their lives on the line for us and the freedom we have in America. We are collecting items for care packages and also letters of support & encouragement to send over seas to our hero's that are defending our country.
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Little Patriots Embraced Family Deployment Package
The LPE Family Package was designed for our military families. It is our goal to deliver this package to each family dealing with deployment. It is our way of saying how much we love and appreciate them for their service and sacrifice. Items in our package can offer emotional and psychological support for family members. Research shows that items similar to those in our package help meet these needs for people in similar stress-related situations.
LPE Family Deployment Package contents:
- USA Patriot Bear Quilt /Wall-hanging (for the home of every military family)
- Baby Blanket (custom designed soft receiving blanket to hold each baby born in a family of our military)
- Little Patriot Bear (designed for this program and for the arms of all children in the military)
- "We Care" Magnet (holds a card with important phone numbers for assistance)
- Ink Pen (to write their loved one)
- CD (soothing and relaxing music for the family as well as returning service member)
- Adult Writing Journal (a way to express thoughts and feelings)
- Childs Writing Journal (a drawing and writing journal for children)
- Large Tote Bag (for the items)
Mission Heart Hug
Mission Heart Hug, the nation's only program of its kind, offers you a way of saying thanks by providing you the opportunity to prepare a shoebox gift for a military spouse.
The vision and goal of Support Military Spouses is to provide every U.S. military wife or husband whose spouse is deployed on foreign soil with a shoebox filled with gifts of a pampering and encouraging nature. We partner with the military to distribute the shoebox gifts.
Support Military Spouses
Shoeboxes for Military Spouses, the nation's only program of its kind, offers you a way of saying thanks by providing you the opportunity to prepare a shoebox gift for a military spouse.
Would you like to learn more about what to include in a care package for the home front? Find out HERE
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Here in the U.S, the U.S. Postal Service is the only means available to ship to APO/FPO addresses. Oconus.com has a database of more than 700 companies that ship to APOs.
What if your favorite retailer doesn't ship to an APO/FPO? Apobox.com is a service that will give you a US address to ship packages to your APO/FPO address. Their service provides anyone with an APO or FPO address a US shipping address to ship any package to. We then forward your mail via the US postal service to your APO FPO.
A helpful Army Times article about which online retails do and don't ship APO - and how to protect packages sent from home - LINK
Here is a sampling of some of the retailers and others that do ship to an APO/FPO address:
Big John's Beef Jerky
Big John's Military Specials:
- The most popular sampler packs chosen by Military personnel
- Priced 20%+ below retail
- Free gift notice sent free of charge (if requested)
- Free shipping includes all APO/FPO addresses
Please contact us with special requests for bulk orders, support for special projects or anything else to make life a little easier for the brave men and women of the US Armed Forces.
Cheryl & Co.
In honor of our servicemen and women we ship free to APO/FPO.
Damn Good Jerky
Have you ever tasted a product, and knew immediately that it could have been made better? That exact attitude is the basis for us starting Damn Good Foods. Regardless of cost and the effort necessary, we will provide only the best possible products, or we simply just won't make it.
Giddy Gift Box
Whether your soldier is out and about in a foreign land, or just learning the ropes at boot camp, getting something from home and knowing that people are thinking about them is a huge pick-me-up. Orders are shipped in white boxes, have colorful fill to brighten their day, and include a card, personalized with a note from you. Our top priorities are quality of food and products that go into our care packages, fantastic presentation and top value for your dollar. Our most popular military care package is From the Family, which is a unique gift pack that is put together specifically for your soldier.
Don't know a soldier, but would like to give a care package to one? Support A Troop anonymously. Know a soldier and would like to Nominate A Troop to receive a care package? In addition to our Support A Troop program, we draw one nominated soldier's name every month to receive a care package from the staff at Giddy Giftbox.
Gift Basket Bounty
Show our deployed soldiers how much you appreciate them. Send a Military Care Package with your Free Personalized Message for your loved ones that are deployed overseas or here in the U.S.!
All of these care packages are available for delivery to Military APO/FPO addresses - USPS Priority Mail. Your care package will be delivered to most locations within one to two weeks. *U.S. Postal shipping fees apply for APO & FPO addresses.
Gourmet Gift Baskets
Created specifically for people serving in our Military, our Military Care Packages are the perfect surprise, especially if they are in war zones or Third World countries. Anyone far from home appreciates receiving a package, and when that Care Package comes from your selection at Gourmet Gift Baskets, the pleasure is even greater. Women in the military especially appreciate the spa packages of skin care and hygiene products.
Hickory Farms
Ships free to APO/FPO addresses. Summer sausage gifts, nut gifts, sweet gifts and more.
Minimus
Has military care packages with travel size items: food, snacks, beverages, mini-meals, condiments, medical, personal care, laundry, etc. Shipments to military post offices (i.e. APO or FPO) can only be shipped via the U.S. Postal Service.
Miss Your Voice
Don't send them just a box full of stuff, send them a box full of love. Mail call is the most looked forward to time, while overseas, light up your service members day with a custom care package.
Our care packages are hand decorated, and themed to the theme of your choice. Be it “Happy Holidays”, “Happy Anniversary” or even just “Thinking of You”.
These are not just ordinary care packages. They are gifts. When your service member opens their box, they will see a colorful, decorated interior, and inside there will be gift boxes, and or, gift bags for them to open containing their goodies! Providing them with the excitement of receiving presents, and guaranteeing them a smile.
Our main goal is to make your service member feel loved and appreciated! We don't want to take credit for your gift! The care package will be sent with your address as the return shipping address, and MissYourVoice will not appear anywhere on the box. Each package will be unique and completed to your specifications, and we can even add hand written messages to include in the package!
Send Care
Let your loved one know you're thinking of them with a custom military care package from SendCare.com! We provide convenient, unique and affordable care packages specially designed for hardworking U.S. military service personnel. We take care of all of the customs paperwork for you and save you the hassle of standing in line at the post office and filling out forms.
Tabasco Country Store
Military gift ideas include: grenade handle bottle topper, camoflauge holster, The Unofficial MRE Recipe Booklet, military Tabasco bottle, "Recover and Burn" playing cards, "Tabasco" playing cards. Ships to APO/FPO addresses.
Wishes from Home
Taking the hassle out of finding boxes, filling out U.S. Customs forms, and getting to the post office, Wishes from Home proudly prepares and ships care packages to service men and women serving anywhere around the world.
For those closely related to someone serving in the Armed Forces, or for those who simply want to show they care, Wishes from Home is the answer.
Wishes from Home proudly partners with the Delaware Industries for the Blind which helps assemble and ship our gift packages to military bases in Afghanistan or any APO/FPO.
Copyright Benita Koeman 2008 - 2012
Care packages
for deployed military
personnel & the home front
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Click on the links below for more information on:
Organizations that send care packages to:
Other helpful links:
resources
Deployment support for
Resources for
Military life
Free downloads for kids & teens
Encouragement
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