| Care packages for troops on duty overseas are not | | | | pretzels, cereal and granola bars, brownies, cakes, |
| only needed, but are still the best way to 'thank you'. | | | | candy and gum. Chocolate items are a bad idea, |
| While most basic needs of troops are already | | | | because chocolate melts. |
| provided for, there are always certain items that are | | | | Personal items, such as T-shirts, hats and gloves, flip |
| in short supply. | | | | flops or shower shoes, and shoe polish are great. |
| For example, prepaid phone cards are the best and | | | | Other items such as sunscreen and lotion and wrap |
| most useful things to send troops overseas, | | | | around sunglasses are vitally important as many |
| according to the Army & Air Force Exchange | | | | troops are stationed in very hot areas. Other hygiene |
| Service, whose phone campaign is called Help Our | | | | items such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, |
| Troops Call Home. Prepaid phone cards can be sent | | | | shampoo, Band-Aids. |
| to individual troops or to any troop via a service such | | | | Entertainment is a luxury that troops need. Send |
| as the American Red Cross. As well as phone cards, | | | | items such as movies DVDs and music CDs, |
| send a batch of blank greeting cards, so that troops | | | | magazines, handheld electronic games, and playing |
| can remember loved ones back home. | | | | cards. |
| Food and beverage items that remind troops of the | | | | But most of all, send cash. In this post-911 world |
| tastes and smells of home are always cherished. | | | | some items may have difficulty getting through and |
| Small individually packaged items such as instant | | | | the military's supply system is already overloaded. |
| coffee, hot chocolate packets, and sugar packets, | | | | Sending cash, while less personal, is often quicker and |
| are always needed. Instant food items such as | | | | more practical. A quick Internet search will bring up |
| breakfast foods, instant soup mixes, and | | | | websites with lots of information on how to send |
| ready-to-eat meals and salad kits, are ideal. Also, | | | | cash or packages to troops overseas. |
| individual packs of snacks, such as chips, peanuts, | | | | |