Gouramiguy17

Our 4-h is putting together some gifts to send over to the troops in iraq, what are some of your guys favorite things to get?

Butterfly

Great idea!

harpua2002

I heard that a deck of cards was a popular item, or there are a lot of other card games that they sell at Walmart too. Maybe some microwave popcorn, beef jerky, other snack foods that don't spoil. I've never been in the military, those were just a couple of thoughts.

Great idea to send gifts to our troops!

Slug

Those are good suggestions. Here are some things we enjoyed getting while over there.

Chewing gum, sunflower seeds, any type of candy really like blowpops or tootsie pops etc, decks of cards, not everyone has access to a microwave but popcorn would be good. Beef jerky is great. Baby wipes can be useful too. Just things that are either snacks or cure boredom will be good. Can be as simple as a frisbee or football. Newspapers from home and magazines as well.

I'll try and keep thinking of more ideas.

Raamiah

I know it has been mentioned but chocolate and candy were things I heard were always very appreciated. It's the simple stuff we take for granted that they really miss.

Meenu

I thought we couldn't send chocolate because it melts.

David C

We couldnt use microwaves because they didn't run well on the generators, not sure everyone over there will have the same issue but it's something to consider. Anything that melts won't arrive in a good condition. My platoon loved getting jerky and pepperoni sticks. Canned meats were another treat. Really you can't go wrong with any type of hard candy, nothing better than something sweet. The baby wipes is another awesome idea, you can never have enough wipes.

Do you know what unit or type of unit you will be sending the supplies to? I was combat arms and lived on a tiny little FOB in the middle of nowhere and we didn't have much of anything in the way of amenities. Other bases where the rear echelon individuals lived were complete with Burger King and Pizza Hut. If you have an option, I think the combat guys (i.e. tankers, infantry) doing the grunt work would probably get more thanks out of a treat like a care package then someone living with a swimming pool they can frequent every day. Just my 2cents

Dave

Slug

Thats what they say, but I constantly had a supply of tootsie rolls while over there....it will be getting hotter there in the coming months so it might cause a little meltage...but I had no problem with it.

I was in the rear David heh. At TQ. We had full access to fridges, microwaves, internet, etc 24/7. No fast food places until we were leaving through Al Asad lol. A bit spoiled but still not like home.

Annadvn

My husband always wanted toilet roll and wet wipes and anything to make hygiene better while he was in a tent in the middle of the dessert.

Cards and magazines were great too, as were the candy, jerky etc...

Anna

Gouramiguy17

Thank you for all the good ideas, keep em coming

titusxander

This thread reminds me of something that my FFA chapter does every year around Christmas. We bake cookies and send them over to our local air force base. I don't know if they go to the troops on base or the ones over sea, but i do know that i bake about 10 dozen every year for it.