Reply #13: I've sent several packages to our DU soldiers in Iraq. [View All]

[Bunny]

Food is always appreciated - they seemed to most enjoy the pouches of tuna or salmon, or the tuna salad kits you can buy. They loved those Dole fruit cup things. Other snack foods are also good. Powdered juice mixes, hard candy, cookies, etc. Seasonings too, like Mrs. Dash, Seasonall, bottles of tabasco or chipotle sauce, etc.

Cigarettes are also welcome - even if your son doesn't smoke, others will appreciate them. (I know smoking is bad, but they're in a war, so I give them a break about it!).

I bought travel sizes of toiletries, since they would be easier to lug around. If you can find Dental Dots, they are appreciated(I think Bed Bath and Beyond carries them -they are little dots imbedded with toothpaste, they stick to your finger, and you can brush your teeth without a brush, paste, or water!)

Charmin makes a tiny littel travel roll of toilet paper, probably only about 20 sheets, but it's small enough to fit in their packs and would be perfect for a field emergency!

Any newspapers, magazines,word search, paperbacks, Cd's (maybe you could burn a few of various music genres for a wider appeal), batteries, telephone calling cards, tablets, envelopes, and pens are good.

No cigarette lighters, shaving cream and anything else that could ignite or blow up under pressure. I was also told that due to Islam there can be no pork, booze, or pornography.

I usually tried to put a small toy or game in each package, like a slinky, travel etch-a-sketch, nerf football, deck of UNO cards, etc. Even if the guys don't really want it, they can maybe give it to a local kid.

Best wishes to your son. I'm sure he'll be in all our thoughts.