Here's some gift suggestions from "Major Pain", a Marine in Afghanistan and milblogger. Let's let our men and women know that the people here remember them and appreciate the heck out of what they're doing.
GIFT SUGGESTIONS FROM “MAJOR PAIN” AT http://www.onemarinesview.com/one_marines_view/
The best advice I give to people that want to send things to service members is first, stay within a budget. The last thing we want is you to be between a rock and a hard spot, especially now.
Send when you can and send the items that matter the most. That brings me to probably the most important meat of this, “What are really important items to send”
The below are items I have found to be most beneficial:
Wetwipes (have you ever used toilet paper that has sat on the port a john floor? OR been without TP?)
Body soap (when we do get showers-for all that is holy use liquid soap)
Lotion (it’s a harsh environment-give your skin some love)
Neosporin (cuts are continuous-need to treat as soon as you get em-lots of nasty germs there)
AA Batteries (ONE Million uses)
Nail clippers (It’s the basic things that make you happy)
Socks (http://www.moabsports.com/web-pid-CS502-Footguard-Copper-Sole-Over-the-Calf-Health-Crew-WIth-Natural-Foot-item.htm)
1” Small paint brushes (to brush flour like dirt off of weapons)
Coffee & coffee filters (need more coffee) AND you can go to any Starbucks, buy the stuff & they will donate to the cause!
Shaving cream (do you see any of the news pics? It’s not like Iraq, there are no stores in the crappy areas or really at all) (probably non-aerosol only per shipping regs. - ed.)
Razors i.e. Mach 3 & razor blades (disposable razors are bad)
Electric Razors are the bomb because, you don’t need blades and they can be recharged without batteries AND you don’t have to use water when its 32 degrees. Here are some good ones:
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=10652013
Peak 1 squad stoves to heat water (hello coffee) (multi-fuel stoves - ed.)
Adaptors to make British (big three pronged ones) plugs turn into US plugs
Chef B Or Dee in a can (MREs get old after the 1st one & are hell on your gut)
Hand warmer things (lets face it, its gonna be freezing pretty much all the time) (ok per USPS - ed.)
Hand Sanitizer hand sanitizer is king!
Additions from Foothills Detachment;
Foot Powder
Lip Balm
Tooth Brush & Paste
Deodorant
Shampoo
Snack Food Items Of All Kinds – Sealed Packages Only, Please
These are a few items that will give us the biggest bang for the buck vis sending this and that. I can tell you from receiving all kinds of things, its better you know WHAT we really need instead of sending things that may seem good to have vis need to have.
