Cool Stuff For Care Packages

Care packages, as you know, are extremely important pieces of mail to our deployed troops. They serve as a reminder to our military that we, as Americans, still care about them and the job they're doing. So, we try our best to include what they want and need in these packages, but with the ever-changing conditions in deployment areas it's sometimes difficult to stay current with those wants and needs. To find out what our troops want and need, SKIP surveyed 500 deployed service members asking what they would like to see in future care packages.

The 500 service members were specifically asked to provide us a list of items they would like to see included in future care packages. Those results can be quickly seen in the pie chart to the left. However, for a more detailed breakdown we encourage you to read on.

38% of the service members responded with multimedia such as CDs, DVDs, iTunes (or similar) gift cards for music downloads, and video games. Multimedia is the most popular requested item, but let's take a closer look at what, specifically, they are asking for.

Most of the service members requesting multimedia made mention of new release movies on DVD. They have indicated that while the PX (military retail store) may carry some newer movies, those movies usually do not remain in-stock for very long and therefore, getting a copy of a new movie is next to impossible. In respect to music CDs, many of the troops that requested CDs also requested iTunes Gift Cards in lieu of a CD. The iPod phenomenon makes it easier for our troops to carry music with them on missions and everywhere else. You can purchase an iTunes Gift Card directly through the iTunes music player or by visiting http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/giftcards/itunes/gallery. Of course, if you can afford to purchase an iPod to go with the Gift Card the receiving servicemember would really jump for joy!

Video games were also a fairly popular requested multimedia item, but unless you are certain the servicemember has a gaming system, and it's the right one for the game you want to send, I'd avoid sending any games in a care package.

Candy, gum, cookies, brownies, and everything else that's sweet and good came in a close second to multimedia. 33% of the servicemembers requested more candy. But, we were reminded that chocolate, while it tastes good, doesn't ship well at all. Melted chocolate, while it still tastes good, isn't ideal for a quick “Hungry, why wait?” situation. So, instead of chocolate, think about sending Twizzlers, hard candy, homemade brownies or sugar cookies, or Dots.

We were also asked to let people know that candy is a very popular item in care packages and that some healthy alternatives would be great to see. Things like protein bars, granola bars, rice cakes, dried fruits, and nuts aren't included in enough care packages.

Thinking about staying healthy – what about personal hygiene items? Finding the time to stop by the PX to pick up some more deodorant or another bar of soap can easily become a challenge when you're always on the go. That's why 19% of the surveyed troops listed personal hygiene items right at the top of their requests. Some of those items include razors, toothpaste, hair products, and mouthwash.

All of the females we surveyed also asked specifically for feminine hygiene products, not limiting those items to things guys usually feel grossed out by, but also including pretty-smelling shampoo and conditioner, body wash, shaving cream, lotion, and manicure/pedicure sets.

Rounding out the results of this particular survey, 10% of the surveyed troops found the day-to-day things that we tend to take for granted, like sheets and pillow cases, hair ties and clips, socks, alarm clocks, flashlights, towels, hand warmers, and yes, those sticky, nasty, fly strips that hang from the ceiling, to be of utmost importance in care packages.

In the end, what SKIP has learned from conducting this survey is that it's not really about how much money was spent on the package; it's about the personalization and thought that went into that care package that really matters to our troops. So, if you're going to send a package to the troops, or if you want to donate something to an organization like SKIP, please don't think of it as cleaning out your attic. Instead, take a few minutes to find something special to give.

You can find a complete list of “most requested items” that we hope to include in future SKIP care packages at http://www.skipcares.org/carepackages/contents.php.

To donate one or more items for inclusion in SKIP care packages please visit http://www.skipcares.org/contact.php.

To donate financially to allow SKIP to continue shipping care packages to the troops please visit http://www.skipcares.org/support/fundraisers/donate.php.