Deployment can be a challenging time for families. It is important that spouses and children are staying in touch and communicating with their loved ones during active duty. Sending regular care packages is a great way to do this. It shows soldiers that their family members are thinking of them, which can be very comforting during deployment.
Although sending care packages can help servicemembers reduce stress and feel more at home, you will want to send your loved one items that he or she will personally enjoy. Do not get overwhelmed by all of your choices. Instead, consider packing some of these items that are sure to make your family member smile.
1. A card
A handwritten note is an intimate way to communicate with your loved one during deployment. Have the whole family sign it and write a personal message to keep him or her up to date on what is going on at home. This also gives you the chance to make a list of the package's contents, as it is common for packages being shipped long distances to break open. If mail handlers have all of the items written down in front of them, they will know what to repack if this does happen.
2. Snacks
While deployed servicemembers usually have plenty of food on base, their options are often limited and bland. Receiving their favorite snacks can be very exciting for them.
Containers of nonperishable foods, like pretzels, chips and nuts, make great additions to a care package. However, try to avoid plastic bags, as these tend to explode under pressure. Military.com noted that cookies are a care package snack that is frequently treasured by soldiers, as servicemembers do not receive anything like them on base. Candy and gum, with the exception of chocolate, which will melt in the heat, also make good contents.
3. Meal enhancers
While you cannot pack home-cooked meals in your care package, providing commodities that add flavor to bland foods is a fun idea. For example, small bottles of hot sauce and barbecue sauce can spice up any meal that might be lacking taste. Flavor packets that make water taste like lemonade, strawberries or oranges can brighten up your loved one's day and make consuming fluids more enticing. This is key, as many servicemembers perform rigorous activities during the day but do not drink enough water. Be sure to place these in freezer bags to prevent them from exploding or opening while in transit.
4. Personal care and toiletries
Active duty servicemembers often do not have access to items like shampoo, skin lotion, toothbrushes and razors on a regular basis. Sending them a few of these products can make their day-to-day duties more comfortable, especially if you choose brands that you know your loved one likes. If he or she is deployed in a country that is particularly cold, including contents like disposable hand warmers can help him or her more easily get through a day filled with outdoor activities.
5. Sentimental materials
Although servicemembers do miss the food and personal care items they once used regularly at home, what most of them long for most is news about what is going on in their spouses' and children's lives. Throw in a few recent photographs of the family with descriptions of where you were and what was going on in each.
If you have taken any videos of special events, or even just fun clips of the family saying hello, these can greatly enhance a care package. You can put them on a USB drive so they do not take up much room in the box.