Care Packages For Our Troops Puppies

[anniek]

Did it last year - and I still have my "pen pal".

[mackenzie11]

Umm, they don't really miss out on anything. When my son was in Iraq, I kept asking him what did he want me to send him....and everything I suggested, he said was easy to get over there. He had plenty of Aussie food, and really the only thing he wanted was some Bonds T-shirts as he had to have sleeves and he'd only taken singlets, and a couple of motorbike mags.

Pretty much everything else was quite readily available.

i don't think it is so much that they are missing out on stuff as much as it is about people back here in aus thinking about them,

a package at christmas for a soldier who has no one thinking of him/her at christmas would surely cheer some one up who is in such a god for saken place, some one taking a little time out of their life to think of someone else makes that someone else feel quite special - even if it is a complete stranger.

thats how i feel about it anyway, so many other posters obviously feel the same way,

would you not feel special to wake up one day and have someone deliver to you for no other reason than "because they could" a hamper full of stuff that you never asked for, stuff to spoil yourself with???

There would still have to be soldiers not lucky enough to have someone at home willing and able to send them surprise packages and [b]I would assume that the soldiers already receiving stuff from home will be less likely to take one of the boxes we send anyway. [/b]

It is the gesture that says we are thinking about them as well as the contents inside the box. I am going to try and make mine more festive now so it really is about spoiling someone. Or I might do something silly like say "There was a christmas raffle at work and you won it!" or do a 12 Days of Christmas kind of thing. I'm sure they will be well fed on Christmas Day but I'd like them to open up these boxes and go "OMG! Look at what someone has sent me!" Even if they don't use all the items they can swap or give them away.

when i first read about this in the local paper it stated "only the troops who DID NOT receive anything from home at christmas would receive a care package" so not every soldier would get one,

i totally agree with you, i think it is about being able to give someone something with out rhyme or reason, just because you can, to be able to make them smile and feel that some one cares about them,

i am so glad i was able to come accross this in my paper, and that so many people on this site are willing to help, our guys and gals are over there far from friends and family and by sending these packages we - at home - can say your not forgotten, your not alone, we are not ignoring you guys and gals fighting whilst we sit and celebrate christmas.

Edited October 30, 2010 by mackenzie11

[Perry's Mum]

I am glad you came across it too - I have been wanting to send something to Amber who was one of our rescues and her handler and I could not get an address out of Defence to post it, I am going to make up a very nice package for each of them.

[Sydoo]

My brother asked for a lot of stuff when he was in Afghanistan - beef jerky and canned tuna were #1 demands as the food was lacking (to say the least) in his area and he struggled to keep weight on. He didn't have regular access to a can opener and wasn't keen on using his knives to open cans so ring pulls were essential.

I sent M&Ms during summer and they arrived fine - the colour melts off but the candy shell is quite resilient. They were originally created for the military after all. Oft requested red frogs became one giant lump but still edible. Muesli bars mostly arrived in an edible state (if a tad disfigured). Anything you think could survive a week in your car in the sun should be fine. If you are unsure, seal it in a few ziplock bags so it can't leak out and ruin the rest of the parcel.

[mackenzie11]

My brother asked for a lot of stuff when he was in Afghanistan - beef jerky and canned tuna were #1 demands as the food was lacking (to say the least) in his area and he struggled to keep weight on. He didn't have regular access to a can opener and wasn't keen on using his knives to open cans so ring pulls were essential.

I sent M&Ms during summer and they arrived fine - the colour melts off but the candy shell is quite resilient. They were originally created for the military after all. Oft requested red frogs became one giant lump but still edible. Muesli bars mostly arrived in an edible state (if a tad disfigured). Anything you think could survive a week in your car in the sun should be fine. If you are unsure, seal it in a few ziplock bags so it can't leak out and ruin the rest of the parcel.

thank you so much for putting this info on here for those of use who are very unsure of what to send, it is very usefull information

[grumpette]

This is the information that I received back from the ADF via e-mail

Preparations are underway to send packages. Details should be available on-line a http://www.defence.gov.au from 15 NOV 2010.

[KnucklesDutchnUs]

YAY! I am organising a box for work.

thanks for posting this link.

[Dust Angel]

I have inside knowledge that these packages are VERY much appreciated. Yes Defence supplies them with everything they need but its always nice to know that people back home are supporting you and have a few little luxuries - ration packs in the field are nutritiously sound but no particularly enjoyable! Some of the more popular things are things like the hot chocolate/coffee packet mixers, lollies and letters of support. You can also send a blank sheet of paper in a stamp self addressed envelope so that your soldier can send you requests or even just a thankyou.

Please be patient with the people from the NWCC (National Welfare Coordination Centre) there are only three of them that work the office in Australia and it is manned 24 hours. Defence puts on extra mail planes over Christmas as many, many people send packages over.

Photos from last year in the link below

Linky

[Little Gifts]

I just got back to work after a few weeks holiday and sent the info around. So far 10 people want to help make as many packages as we can and another workgroup is going to do their own. I'm going to the post office today to buy our boxes. I'm so proud of everyone here for wanting to get involved as I harrass them all the time to fund raise for rescue so you think they would be sick of me!

[mackenzie11]

I just got back to work after a few weeks holiday and sent the info around. So far 10 people want to help make as many packages as we can and another workgroup is going to do their own. I'm going to the post office today to buy our boxes. I'm so proud of everyone here for wanting to get involved as I harrass them all the time to fund raise for rescue so you think they would be sick of me!

that's wonderful, thank you so much for getting the word out,

i sent my 3 boxes out today, 1 male, 1 female and 1 dog, i really hope they enjoy them,

i don't think people will get sick off you harrassing them if they know it is for a good cause

thanks agian for getting the word out

[mackenzie11]

I have inside knowledge that these packages are VERY much appreciated. Yes Defence supplies them with everything they need but its always nice to know that people back home are supporting you and have a few little luxuries - ration packs in the field are nutritiously sound but no particularly enjoyable! Some of the more popular things are things like the hot chocolate/coffee packet mixers, lollies and letters of support. You can also send a blank sheet of paper in a stamp self addressed envelope so that your soldier can send you requests or even just a thankyou.

Please be patient with the people from the NWCC (National Welfare Coordination Centre) there are only three of them that work the office in Australia and it is manned 24 hours. Defence puts on extra mail planes over Christmas as many, many people send packages over.

Photos from last year in the link below

Linky

i sent out my boxes today, i had in them - moist wipes, lollies, lolly pops, chewing gum, tang satchets, deodorant, face mask for the females care package, dried fruit, nuts, puzzle books & pens, dental floss, anzac cookies, tins of creamy rice, cotton buds, lip balm, moisturiser, after shave, and for the dogs box, raw hide treats, temper treats, tug toy, for the handler - lollies & lolly pops, dental floss, puzzles books & pens, tang satchets, dried fruit, nuts, chewing gum, letters of support for all,

there was so much more that i wanted to send over but could not fit it in the box, will try to get some more done before christmas,

i hope to hear back from them as i would love to send them packages through out the year also, it is such a small sacrafice on my half for what they are doing over there and for what they have given up, i really hope they enjoy all that i have sent over

the boxes where packed to the brim, they are a decent size but when you want to put so much in they become quite small,

[BCPuppy]

Brilliant idea! Allready planning what I can put in the boxes, have lots of girly things, especially sample/travel sizes, a doggie cool collar I have spare, raid my dogs treat bin - am sure she will not mind - hmm will have to think of somethings for a guy, will pass this onto everyone I can think of.

Thanks so much for telling us about this :p

[Golden Rules]

I bought some boxes today ... and have gathered a few bits and pieces already. I don't know how strict the Post Office is about the 2kg weight .... it won't take much to reach that weight!

[mackenzie11]

Brilliant idea! Allready planning what I can put in the boxes, have lots of girly things, especially sample/travel sizes, a doggie cool collar I have spare, raid my dogs treat bin - am sure she will not mind - hmm will have to think of somethings for a guy, will pass this onto everyone I can think of.

Thanks so much for telling us about this :p

for the guys, try

razors, after shave, roll on deodorant, puzzles books, chewing gum, ring pull tins tuna, moisturiser, footy/car/boat magazines (NO girly ones), just look around the shops and if it is for guys then consider puting it in,

and don't forget with the dog box to put something in for the handler as well,

and if you still stuck for ideas type "care packages for our troops" into your search engine and you will find heaps of ideas of things to send over, most of it is american but you can get loads of ideas from this

good luck with it

[mackenzie11]

I bought some boxes today ... and have gathered a few bits and pieces already. I don't know how strict the Post Office is about the 2kg weight .... it won't take much to reach that weight!

i sent mine off today, and i weight my 3 boxes at home on the home scales, and had all the boxes at exactly 2kg, but low and behold when i got to the post office they had all gained 100gm and was told if i wanted to leave them at that weight they would have to charge me $8.00 per box that was over, so you can not even be over a tad, i thought surely they could allow you to be a tad over,

you would be surprised how much little, but useful, stuff you can put in to get to 2kg, i had loads of stuff in my boxes and am still coming up with ideas of things that i should/could have put in,

good luck with them

[Perry's Mum]

I bought some boxes today ... and have gathered a few bits and pieces already. I don't know how strict the Post Office is about the 2kg weight .... it won't take much to reach that weight!

i sent mine off today, and i weight my 3 boxes at home on the home scales, and had all the boxes at exactly 2kg, but low and behold when i got to the post office they had all gained 100gm and was told if i wanted to leave them at that weight they would have to charge me $8.00 per box that was over, so you can not even be over a tad, i thought surely they could allow you to be a tad over,

you would be surprised how much little, but useful, stuff you can put in to get to 2kg, i had loads of stuff in my boxes and am still coming up with ideas of things that i should/could have put in,

good luck with them

I am sitting here with some empty boxes - so what do you think you could/should have put in?

[mackenzie11]

I bought some boxes today ... and have gathered a few bits and pieces already. I don't know how strict the Post Office is about the 2kg weight .... it won't take much to reach that weight!

i sent mine off today, and i weight my 3 boxes at home on the home scales, and had all the boxes at exactly 2kg, but low and behold when i got to the post office they had all gained 100gm and was told if i wanted to leave them at that weight they would have to charge me $8.00 per box that was over, so you can not even be over a tad, i thought surely they could allow you to be a tad over,

you would be surprised how much little, but useful, stuff you can put in to get to 2kg, i had loads of stuff in my boxes and am still coming up with ideas of things that i should/could have put in,

good luck with them

I am sitting here with some empty boxes - so what do you think you could/should have put in?

Ideas are

tang satchets, wrapped lollies, roll on deodorant, chewing gum, ring pull tuna, ring pull creamy rice, mini shampoos & conditioner, magazines (NO GIRLY ONES), toothpaste, dental floss, soap, moisturiser, baby wipes, beef jerky, playing cards, puzzles books, writing materials, lip balm, razors, talc powder, trail mix, inner soles, hair ties, hair gel, female products, biscuits, non aerosol shaving cream, instand noodles, jelly beans, coffee satchets, hot choc satchets, tooth brushes, rice Krispie bars, muslie bars, dried fruit, any ring pull can foods, chips, popcorn, m&m's

for the Dog

doggy biscuits, doggy treats, doggy toys, doggy chews, and don't forget a treat or two for the handler

just to name a few things lol

just type "care packages for soliders" into your search engine and you will find heaps of pages on what to send, most is american but you will get the general idea,

think about the things that the soldiers would consider a luxury and get them

just don't send

Porno magazines, alcohol, aerosols, cigarettes, pork, clothing except socks

hope this helps you get some ideas, i was stuck for ideas to start but once i got started it was hard to stop, i did 3 boxes and sent them today and have plans for a few more, so many ideas of stuff to send

Edited November 1, 2010 by mackenzie11

[Dodo]

Thanks for starting this thread mackenzie11.

OH asked somebody he works with what her son in law asks for .She has just sent a care package for him...... coffee and lollies. So I thought those coffee sachets would be good .I wondered about putting some cards with stamps on envelopes in too so they can send them to their friends or family.

Edited November 1, 2010 by Dodo

[Perry's Mum]

I have decided I am going to send the dog handlers some of the Koolie Rescue cards with the dog handler and koolie in Afghanistan on, some stamps, and some coffee, some tuna, some razors, shaving cream, deodorant, some lollies and a new paperback. the dogs are getting some pigs ears, greenies, a new ball, some kangaroo sticks, and a bag of toffees for their handler.

[mackenzie11]

perry's mum & dodo - great ideas of things to send

thanks for getting into this