need Care Package Help

[Emrld]

I figure this is a good place to contact current and past military (and their loved ones)
I have a friend whose son is being sent over and another friends' sister.
I don't know all the rules and or regs on care packages or even what the best items to send would be.
Any and all help is welcomed

[Rhia]

There are a ton of websites that let you "Adopt" a soldier and all of them have suggestions for care packages, as well as the official regs for what you can/not send to certain areas of the world. It also details out what is the best method of shipment (USPS first class mail believe it or not!)

[daBaroness]

The ad agency I work for has adopted an entire platoon of Marines soon to be deployed to Iraq. Their platoon leader is the son of our office manager's best friend. He's e-mailed a couple of times (and will be able to do so once in-country) with some suggestions of items they need and love to have. Most of all he's told us how touched and amazed his marines are that we'd adopt the whole platoon.

Here are some items:
Socks
Playing cards
Paperback books
Candy and gum (non-chocolate because of the heat), also breath mints
Magazines (nothing of a sexually suggestive or exploitive nature) like Popular Mechanics and Popular Science, Sports Illustrated (not the swimsuit issue).
Videos and DVDs (again nothing exploitive of sex or showing flesh of women)
Board games like Monopoly, Yahtzee, etc.
Sunscreen (high SPF)
Baby or other kinds of wipes
Hand sanitizer
Facial tissues (the travel size is great)
Chap Stick
Athlete's foot powder/ointment
Underwear
Bathroom/toiletry items (disposable razors, deodorant that won't melt, talc)
Home baked goodies like cookies, brownies, etc. Again - don't send cookies that will melt. Good varieties are snickerdoodles or other "ball" cookies like chocolate or molasses crinkle, drop cookies, brownies (no frosting), peanut brittle, etc.
Cans of Pringles or other formed chips/crackers

The other thing Sgt. Rex says the guys really like are greeting cards and letters from folks back home - even people they don't know. Just write about what's going on in your life, in your community, in the news, etc. You can include pictures or clippings from newspapers, magazines, etc. Keep it light and fun - and remember to thank them for their service and sacrifice.

[Absinthe d'Accalia]

A few sites that might be of help:

http://anysoldier.com/index.cfm

http://www.army.mil/howyoucanhelp/ (see send packages section)

http://www.marines.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/templatereleaseview1/66291DA3BC9830F785256CFB004CE46D