Military Care Packages, Part III

[Venus193]

I'm starting to plan the Halloween box, but I'm a little clueless about what the weather is like in Iraq in October.  I think my group got there in December so they aren't sure, and Weather.com doesn't have the monthly averages for Iraq at the moment.

Does anyone here know, perhaps from past experience?

I ask because I don't want to send chocolate before it's cooled off a bit over there.

One thing I am including is the classic movies we associate with it (meaning vampire and Frankenstein films before the age of Torture Porn).

Edited to add:  In view of religious sensibilities of the host countries and in the interests of our people's safety, is there anything we shouldn't send?

[MDefarge]

BF (he was stationed there 2 years ago)says it will still be hot during the day (mid 90's) so that's probably a bit warm for chocolate. 

He also says that they wouldn't likely be taking any of it off base anyway, and what you have planned sounds fine. 

[hobish]

It's been a while since i sent a box, i am embarrassed to say. Now, one of the women i work with is doing a 45 day stint in Iraq. She's a military nurse, if that makes any difference. Someone i know and like and respect going over there, even for so short a time has renewed my motivation to help them out. I don't have a whole lot set aside, so far. A pack of razors, a few books, and some CD's are really all that is packed. My friend/coworker said to send cigarettes to barter with; but i'm not sure if she was joking . I guess a bottle of wine would be wholly inappropriate, right?

[Venus193]

Do not send any alcohol.  This could cause lots of problems there and not just the most obvious ones.  And depending on where you live, cigarette prices could be going sky high.

Snack foods that don't have frosting, chewing gum, candy (but not chocolate because of the heat), nice soap, and a movie or two will be very welcome.

[Shores]

Hey Venus,

Do you know of any contact points for sending care packages that are OUTSIDE the USA? DF and I had been looking at a "send a care package" website, but all of the places to send the boxes are USA addresses and we simply can't afford the shipping from Europe. Do you know of any place over here that we could send some?

[C0mputerGeek]

In view of religious sensibilities of the host countries and in the interests of our people's safety, is there anything we shouldn't send?

My brother was stationed in Kuwait a few years ago. I was not allowed to send bibles.

[Venus193]

Shores, I have no idea.  I don't know of any APO/FPOs that are overseas.

I recommend you try this website:

http://www.anysoldier.com

If they don't have the answer, they might know who does.

[Shores]

Yeah, that's the site we were looking at.. ok thanks

[WildChild@Heart]

I Googled weather averages for Iraq, Bagdad and they all list the average for Oct in the upper 70's. But to be safe I would skip the chocolate anyway just in case they have a warm streak.

I used to send indian candy corn, harvest mix, gummy spiders and worms, pumpkin seeds, black and red licorice and the most requested atomic fireballs. And if you can don't forget that halloween classic the Rocky Horror Picture Show.

[Venus193]

I sent about 200 lbs of Halloween candy last year (in about 5 14" x 14" boxes) along with some decorations, some Bath and Body Works hand soap in the Jack o'lantern and Ghost bottles, and about a dozen movies (no torture porn).

Remember that M&Ms were invented during WWII so that our troops could have chocolate any time and anywhere!

[sbtier]

I seconnd the M&Ms, I know from experience they don't melt, and by coincidence, a 'any soldier' coordinator wrote that just the other day.  I have to get back into sending packages. I was sponsoring a Marine who came home, and I haven't been sending since.  I'm currently recovering from a hospitalization and have been doing letters and cards to Sailors via. any soldier.com.

Don't forget to send gum, jolly ranchers, and other hard candies.  It's dry in the desert.

[rashea]

Here's a site that gives some basic weather info for Iraq: http://www.iraq-up-close-and-personal.com/iraqweather.html

It looks like 90's and 100's in October.

[Athos_000]

I have a question for those of you who have sent or received these packages. I am the president of my university's art society and I was thinking about sending a package with some small paintings and photos created/taken by our group (along with other useful items). If I could get connected to a troup from our area, they might like to see pictures of home. One poster in another thread mentioned how everything was brown and her group liked to hang up colorful drawings and such. Do you think this would be acceptable? I think it would be a great opportunity for us to do something useful with our artwork and maybe bring some cheer to homesick soldiers. (I have tried to check out anysoldier.com but the page isn't working  )

[ItZWhoUKnow]

I have a question for those of you who have sent or received these packages. I am the president of my university's art society and I was thinking about sending a package with some small paintings and photos created/taken by our group (along with other useful items). If I could get connected to a troup from our area, they might like to see pictures of home. One poster in another thread mentioned how everything was brown and her group liked to hang up colorful drawings and such. Do you think this would be acceptable? I think it would be a great opportunity for us to do something useful with our artwork and maybe bring some cheer to homesick soldiers. (I have tried to check out anysoldier.com but the page isn't working  )

I think it's a terrific idea! My hubby comes home in about a week but he had plenty of pictures and cards on his wall so it would a little more homey and not so blessed boring to look at.

[Venus193]

I've never sent artwork, but I suspect that movie or music posters would be very welcome.