Shipping Christmas to Your Soldier

This is  a re-publish as I move the highlights over from my website to the new series of blogs. It's not Christmas-time yet, but it is a good article for when it comes around...not to mention that the fall is a good time to keep your eyes open for things to buy as Christmas seems to come to the stores earlier and earlier every year.

‘Tis the season for special care packages. The holidays are hard for military personnel in general as most live away from their closest friends and relatives. Holidays are even harder when they are deployed. While I have written a separate article on “Care Package Items,” and those things are still needed all the time, today we are focusing on the extras for the holidays…the little things that bring the holiday spirit.

Soldiers see the same old drab desert scene and run down barracks rooms day after day. When I first received a request for “Christmas in a Box”, I was a little taken back…decorations were not something that even crossed my mind that they could have or would want.

• You can find a cheap string of Christmas lights at Target or Walmart for around $2. It is one of those items that you don’t have to worry if the soldier receives from someone else as well as they can usually be strung together or passed on to another soldier who needs cheer.
• A miniature tree is an essential. I was able to find a USB powered Christmas tree that lights up for just a few dollars. Otherwise, the dollar section at Target has the plain ones that don’t light up which can be decorated. If the soldier has children, they can make miniature ornaments. Another suggestion that I heard was to wrap tiny “presents” such as packs of gum for under the tree to give it a complete look.
• In my home, I’m not a big fan of sparkly tinsel garland on my tree. However, garland can add a little festiveness to a room.

Note- This is just a jumping off point for inspirations…there are many types of decorations out there that would be enjoyed by soldiers. Just make sure that the decorations you send are non-breakable as you want them to arrive in one piece. Also, if your soldier spends a lot of time in the field, such as Special Forces, then decorations may be something that they cannot utilize.

A Christmas Stocking or Santa Hat filled with seasonal goodies or stocking stuffers is always a treat:

• This is the season for chocolate while the weather is cooler.
• Hard candies and candy canes are treats that last longer and usually won’t go bad.
• Mints and gum can be taken out on missions for those times when a toothbrush isn’t handy.
• Drink packets such as hot chocolate, seasonal teas, and spiced cider make a nice way to warm up.
• Eggnog packets can be a great seasonal treat although sometimes hard to find.
• Many stores have stocking stuffer or pocket sizes of traditional games for the holidays.
• Think of fun items that will remind the joyfulness that they had as a child…matchbox cars or bouncy balls, etc.

Note- Even though it is the cooler season, I recommend putting any candy that may melt into a plastic baggy as to not wreck the rest of the contents…just in case.

In any care package, food is always welcomed:

• This is the season for homemade cookies, candies, and treats. The shipping date for overseas comes a lot earlier than most people normally bake Christmas cookies. Don’t feel that you can’t send Christmas cookies just because they may not make it in time for Christmas. The holiday favorites will still be enjoyed after Christmas and it extends the holiday season.
• Many store bought foods, such as Oreos and Little Debbie snack cakes, come in seasonal versions as well.
• Share local favorites such as a jar of salsa from New Mexico or huckleberry candy from Idaho.

Note- Be sure to protect the food items in the package so that they don’t arrive damaged. Also, check the expiration dates to ensure that a food will not go bad prior to arriving.

Don’t forget  to send the fun:

• Electronic handheld games can give a little entertainment.
• Movies and CDs are something that can be sent slightly used. Seasonal ones are great for getting in the holiday spirit. Otherwise, most stores have value sections and at least one store this year is offering $1.99 Black Friday movies.
• Magazines are something that is easily passed on to soldiers once the subscriber has  read them. Watch the date- topical magazines are still interesting after their issue date whereas social magazines such as People Magazine are only good for a month or so after the date of the issue.
• “Bathroom Reader” style books, that have either short stories or interesting facts, or Comic Books allow for an easy read.

Note- Some people ask what they should send as Christmas gifts. Christmas gifts are a really individual thing. Not only does it depend on the things that a soldier likes, but it also depends on that soldiers space and preference. A lot of soldiers do not have extra space both in their rooms and for bring things back when they ship home.  Most soldiers prefer that care packages mainly contain items that are consumable (whether food or toiletries that get used up). The other aspect of preference is that while many soldiers would like to be acknowledged, some soldiers with families wait to do the majority of their Christmas when they get home (depending on their return date). Either check with your soldier or send something that anyone can use like a Itunes gift card as it doesn’t take up space and most soldiers have an MP3 player or Ipod of some sort or a personal laptop that they can use for playing music or movies.

*It does not fit neatly into another category, but soldiers who spend time in the field like the hand warmers…especially for cold nights.

**The most important thing to any soldier at the holidays is knowing that people care. Even if you are unable to send a care package to a soldier, send a card or write a letter letting them know they are not forgotten. I have a friend, whose husband used to serve in the military, that still makes Christmas cards to soldiers with her children. If the soldier is a friend or relative include a picture of your family or have your children draw greetings to the soldier. If you are a workplace wanting to do something for a soldier who is away for deployment, you can use a digital camera to record video messages and then send a disc with all of the greetings to the soldier. If you are a teacher, I know that the soldiers who have received cards and letters from classes have enjoyed them. (A note to teachers- you may want to add a small note asking the soldier to write back to your class. While it is common courtesy, sometimes busy soldiers do not think of those things on their own.)

***My final note- while the deadline for shipping is quickly approaching, I would encourage people to send holiday cheer even if it has passed the deadline. I know that one year, while my brother-in-law was serving in Iraq, my gift took a month to get there and arrived late. On his next deployment, I was sure to get my package out on time…it took 3 days to get there and it was there 3 weeks early. I know other people who have encountered similar experiences and stated that their soldiers ate all of their Christmas goodies weeks in advance and had nothing at Christmas. If you are a spouse or a parent of a single soldier sending gifts, then I encourage you to send your gifts or Christmas decorations ahead of the deadline to make sure that they get there in time. As for Christmas cookies, cards, and other people sending holiday cheer, I encourage people to send it at whatever point they have it ready…while it is good to hit the deadline to ensure your holiday cheer is there before Christmas, it allows for goodies to be spaced out and spreads the holiday cheer…the biggest thing for the soldiers is being remembered.