MARINES IN BATTLE CARE PACKAGE PROGRAM

BACKGROUND While the other Military Services have organizations to support their personnel and programs, the Marine Corps has the Marine Corps League, Devil Pups, Marine Corps Association, etc. This program is one way this Detachment and the Patriots of this area can do a small part for the Marines in battle. Using this program, the care package is sent directly to a Marine. It eliminates packages going to units and not providing direct care to a Marine. You can request that the Marine send back confirmation that the package was received, who the contents were shared with and even photos. There are many groups and organizations out there and even some bogus ones. This MARINES IN BATTLE CARE PACKAGE PROGRAM is coordinated by Marines, for Marines. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We want to thank Karen, a Marine Mom, whose son will be returning to Iraq for his third combat tour in a few months. Karen is a recognized and credible provider and troop supporter who has been sending and managing the sending of care packages for several years now to our boys and girls serving in the Middle East. She not only sends care packages to Marines but also to members of the other branches of the military. She is our Mentor and provides us with the names and addresses of the Marines. Because of her established network and contact with Marines in the supervisory rolls, she is able to obtain the names of Marines currently serving in battle. HOW THIS WORKS Call one of the below numbers and identify that you would like the name and address of a Marine to send a care package to. You will be asked a few necessary questions to qualify your sincerity. We want to make every effort to ensure that a Marines identity is protected. It is unfortunate that there are some sick individuals and terrorists out there that want to send something harmful to our men and women in battle. We do not want that to happen on our watch. Thank you for your understanding and please do not feel intimidated when we ask some qualifying questions. (928) 445-7657 Primary Coordinator, Marine Don Hatchell (928) 636-9669 Alternate Coordinator, Marine Don Dalton (928) 776-9197 Alternate Coordinator, Marine Frank Caganich OBTAINING SUPPLIES AND CUSTOMS FORMS Using USPS Priority Mail packages, the packages will arrive in Iraq in an average of 16 days. You can obtain USPS shipping supplies from your local USPS or they can be ordered from the below USPS website. Theyll deliver the items to your home or business free of charge. The above primary and alternate coordinators also maintain supplies and are made available to you. Use the (1) No. 7 Priority Mail boxes (25 boxes per case) 12" x 12" x 8", (2) Priority Mail Address Labels and (3) Customs Forms Declaration. When using the website to order supplies, open the website, type in the search Priority Mail Boxes. There should be 4 pages of items. Web Address is: shop.usps.com/cgi-bin/vsbv/postal_store_non_ssl/home.jsp?appName=SSOL GUIDELINES FOR SENDING MAIL TO THE TROOPS All mail must be addressed to a specific service member. Mail addressed to "Any Service Member" will be returned to sender. When sending mail or packages, use their full name (without rank), unit and FPO address. Include your return address. Put the same information inside the package. Use a permanent marker for the outside address and tape over the address using transparent package sealing tape. Label packages properly and list all contents. Make sure the package is rattle proofed by adding enough packing. Nothing should be loose or able to shift inside, otherwise, it will arrive in shambles! Wrap packages securely. Liquid-filled containers tend to break. Powdered items can open during transit causing concern over what kind of substance it is. Please pack the items in sealed plastic bags, Ziplock types or Vacuum Sealed types. Do not put the country or the base camp's city on the mail. Officials say it might get sent through the host country's mail system. Most areas of the Middle East have been authorized Free Mail for personal correspondence being sent FROM the service member overseas back to the U.S. Mail being sent to service members in a free mail zone must still include postage. Each country has customs regulations that apply to all incoming mail. These may include prohibitions on certain kinds of food or entertainment products. Host countries mostly prohibit the entry of alcoholic beverages of any kind, narcotics, munitions, pork and pork by-products, pornography, and material contrary to the Islamic religion. One box/care package example: Boat & Car Magazines, 6 ziplocks of toiletries, 8-Rice Krispies Treats, 4-Top Ramen, 2-Cup Noodles, 10 pkgs Licorice, 1 bag Sunflower Seeds, 3 pair Sunglasses, Socks, Foot powder, Single Load Detergent. Enough items to share with 6-10 buddies). Another creative and fun care package is: Pizza Party in a Box Aluminum Pizza Pans Pizza Cutter Mixing Bowl Pizza Mix in a Box Can Sliced Mushrooms Can Sliced Olives Pepperoni or Turkey Pepperoni Packets of Red Pepper & Parmesan Cheese Red & White Checked Pizzaria Napkins Plates or Small Personal Pan Pizza Boxes Those who received it said it was the best meal they had over there! It brought many smiles as well as happy taste buds to all the guys/gals. They'll find an oven somewhere, where there's a will there's a way! Some have cooked it on the pan on a BBQ grill, they'll find a way. Besides the below lists of recommended items to send, you can also go to www.jocokyroots.com/OCFriends.htm for some ideas. ITEMS FREQUENTLY REQUESTED: 1. Easy Mac & Cheese 2. Tuna in a Pouch 3. Hearty Soups/Stews 4. Beef Jerky/Beef Sticks 5. Any canned food you can warm up like soup FOOD: Any kind of prepackaged snack foods Apple Cider Mix Packets Applesauce in pouches Beef Jerky Beef summer sausage Breakfast and granola bars Brownies Candies that travel well, like gummy bears and licorice and trail mix Candy Canes Canned chips, pringles, Single serve bags of chips, Canned soup, any canned food they love - without pork Cereal, Single Size Boxes Cheese Crackers Cheese in a can Chex mix, individual packets Chips, individual packets Chocolate any kind that travels well Chocolate Biscuits Chocolate drink mixes Coca Cola and other soft drinks in Plastic Bottles Coffee, creamer and sugar, in individual packets Coffee, Instant and flavored coffee mixes Cookies Country time lemonade sweetened powders Cracker Jack Crackers - Triscuits and Ritz crackers are great Crunch & Munch Cup Of Noodles Dried Fruit Easy Cheese Fast food condiments (Hot sauce, ketchup, mustard, salt and pepper packets, relish, Mayo) Fresh breeze or other throat lozenges Fruit Roll Ups Fruit, Canned For One in Pull Back Lids Gatorade Granola Bars Gum Hard Candies Hot Chocolate, individual serves Jelly, individual packs Juice in pouches or boxes (CAPRI SUN, ETC) Kool aid, pre-sweetened Kraft Easy Mac, Licorice Life Saver Candy Little Debbie snack cakes Lunch box size-Jolly Ranchers have been suggested) Lunchables (non-refrigerated) Mini Marshmallows for Hot Choc. Mix (and for packing material) Non-melting candy, gum, marshmallows, lollipops Noodle packets, instant Nuts, individual packs Oatmeal Oreo Cookies Pop Tarts Popcorn, Microwave packs (some units have access to microwaves) Powdered hot chocolate Powdered sugared drink mixes (Gatorade, Kool-Aid, sweetened of course, etc.) Pretzels Pringles Pudding For One Ragu Express Raisins - HEB has a bag of tiny packs for $1 Ramen Soup Ravioli, Canned with pop top/ pull back lids Rice Krispie Treats Salad dressing & any other sauces they can use to dress up their MREs Salsa and corn chips of course! Bean and cheese dips are a favorite! Sardines Shoe String Potato Sticks in a Can Slim Jims Soup, Instant or canned Spices (Onion powder, garlic powder, spice all, etc) Sunflower Seeds, individual packs Tea - powdered lemon tea or Iced Tea Mix Tea bags Throat Lozenges Tostitos Snack Packs (especially for our Texas guys!) Trail mix Tuna Snack Kits Tuna, in pouch or cans with pop top/ pull back lids Turkey breast in pouch or cans with pop top/ pull back lids Water bottled drinking water TOILETRIES & PERSONAL ITEMS (travel size where applicable): After shave lotion Antibiotic cream Baby powder Baby wipes Big bath towel & wash cloth (dark colors only) Black Kiwi cream shoe polish (paste only) Blister pads Boot powder, Breath mints Bug Repellent & Mosquito Coils Carmex (tub style) Wal-Mart $1 Chilly willies (these can be used as cold and hot compresses too) web.cetlink.net/~angel111/chillywilly/Chilly%20Willy%20Neckties.htm Clorox/antibacterial wipes - for surfaces Combs, brushes Comfort bath body towelettes (one pkg. Is 2 complete body baths) Cot organizer Cotton balls Dental floss Deodorant, sample size Disposable cameras Disposable razors Dr. Scholl's footpads Dust masks Emergency toothache kit. Eye drops Wal-Mart $1 Eyewash Face cleaning wet pads Facial tissue Feminine Hygiene Products Fly swatters Gel insoles Gold Bond (for feet ) Hand Warmers (little bag type warmers) Hand/body lotion (unscented) Imodium pills, ibuprofen, aspirin, cough drops, etc Insect Repellent, Wal-Mart $4 OR SKIN SO SOFT (Avon) Lip balm with sunscreen, also handy in winter Liquid antibacterial soap Medicated foot powder Mouth wash - Walgreen's OR Wal-Mart sample display $1 (make sure it doesn't contain alcohol) Nail file and clipper Odor Eaters (for boots) Parachute cord or small line for laundry Personal cooling system from Sharper Image Plastic bags, trash and zip lock Q-tips Rolaids or Tums Saline Nasal Spray Shampoo & conditioner, sample sizes Shaving cream, individual use sachets are great Shower shoes Single use cold compresses Skin Softeners (moisturizes) Soap or body wash Soap, for body and clothes Wal-Mart samples aisle 2/$1 Socks, white T-shirts, undershirts, white Solar shower Sports cream or ben-gay Squeeze breeze Standard bed pillow / case (dark colors only) you can roll pillow to squeeze out all the air and secure with shipping tape to keep it small for shipping. Sunglasses (wrap around) Sunscreen/SUNBLOCK - even in winter, the sun can be harsh Thermal Underwear Toilet paper/tissue Toothpaste & toothbrush Walgreens has a small Colgate with a compact covered brush for $1 T-shirts Underwear Vaseline skin care lotion Vitamins, multi, c, zinc, b-12, etc Wash cloth Waterless antibacterial hand soap Wet ones Wool/cotton blend or 100% cotton men's socks (dark solid colors only black, dark green, blue or gray, mens size 10-13) Zinc oxide Ziploc bags-dollar tree has these for $1 a box and the ones with zippers are excellent! Mexican Fiesta - Canned Chicken, Fajita Seasoning, Jalapeno Peppers, Hot Sauce, Flour Tortillas, Salsa, Cheese Dip, Nachos Quesadillas - Flour Tortillas, Velveeta Cheese, Canned Chicken Or Tuna Pouches Chinese Dinner - Canned Chicken, Kung Pao Seasoning (there are other types of Chinese dinner seasonings too), Peanuts, Chinese Vegetables, Minute Rice, Green Tea, Fortune Cookies, Chop Sticks Italian Dinner - Noodles, Sauce, Beef Sausage or Salami for the Meat, Parmesan, Bread Sticks Tuna Casserole - Boxes of Velveeta Cheese Shell Dinners or Easy Mac (packages are really small though), Green Beans, Pouches of Tuna, Bread Crumbs or Parmesan Cheese for the topping Pizza Party - Only works if they have access to an oven - Chef Boy Ardee Pizza Boxes, sliced mushrooms, pepperoni, parmesan cheese, crushed red peppers, Aluminum Pizza Tins Family Style Dinner - Canned Chicken, Idaho Instant Potatoes (the pouches are great!), envelopes of Gravy, Canned Vegetables Hors D'oeuvre Tray - Beef Sausage, Salami, Cheese (other than the kind in cans, hickory farms sells other cheeses), Black or Green Olives, Dried Fruit in Pouches, Crackers Remember to think about some of those throw away plastic containers that are microwaveable for them to cook in, a few utensils for stirring, and some paper plates.... FREE TIME MATERIALS Address Books Air mattress Balloons Bandannas Banners Baseball caps Batteries (like AA, AAA, etc) Battery powered fan for cot Birthday decorations Board games (chess, checkers, Monopoly, etc.) Books Crossword Books Dartboards Disposable camera include a padded mailer with the appropriate postage so that they can mail it back to you for developing Electronics hand held games Envelopes Film Flashlight w/red lenses Frisbees Hackie sacks Joke books Journals Jump ropes Key chains games and puzzles Magazines (wrestling, boxing, fitness magazines, sports magazines, comic books, Mad, Field & Stream, Guns & Ammo, Outdoor Life) Mini hand held fans Mini or full size foam footballs and basketballs Newly released movies, movies you tape from cable or TV programs (pornography is not allowed) Newspapers Notepads Paper and envelopes Patriotic Stickers or Bumper Stickers Pens Phone cards Playing Cards Pocketknife Portable CD players Post cards from your home state Puzzles Radio headsets Sidewalk chalk Silly putty, Single sheet sets Slinky Small Photo Albums Stamps Stress ball. Tiny Christmas Trees With Decorations Toys and Games¦anything extra silly. Travel Board Games Trivia Books Walkman radio Word puzzle books Yo Yo's THEMED CARE PACKAGES Surviving the Sandstorms- Eye wash; Nasal spray; Chapstick; Bandana; goggles/sun glasses; etc Laundry Load- Laundry soap (Ëœsample size or Tide tablets kind) to pack in with their clothes¦.in case there are no washer/dryers; Fabric softener sheets; clean socks and undershirts; Febreeze Lotta Java- Tea; Cocoa; Coffee singles; creamer; sugar; International Coffee tins; cookies for dunking in coffee Thanks a Million!!- Things that may seem expensive. Ex: Grey Poupon; electronic game of Who wants to be a Millionaire?. Hang in There!- Stuffed animal monkey; Banana bread; Banana chips; Banana pudding (the kind that doesnt have to be refrigerated); Monkeys in a Barrel game; card with a monkey on it. A Day at the Beach!- sunscreen; beach towel; beach snacks; flip flop sandals (shower shoes); aloe vera gel; Medicine Cabinet- aspirin; band-aids; Neosporin cream; A&D ointment; cold medicine; alka seltzer; Rolaids; etc. Staying Healthy- nutrition/health bars (ex: Powerbar; Tigers Milk; Myoplex); vitamins; Nutri-grain bars; Gatorade or other sports drink (to stay hydrated); MRE/Mess Hall Survival Kit- restaurant size condiment packs of: bbq sauce, mustard, ketchup, mayo, relish, salt. Pepper, taco sauce, ranch, cheese in a can dip, etc Correspondence Carton- notebook paper; stationery; pens; pencils; stickers (who knows they may even play with these!!); envelopes, address book (filled out already of course); camera (with a note to send back once it is full); Action Heros- Powerbars; squirt guns; Red Bull drinks; small Army figurines; comic books; Gatorade; Red Bull drinks; etc To Be A Kid Again- silly string; bubbles; small bouncy balls; hacky sacks; brain teaser toys (rubix cube, etc); deck of cards; dominoes; slinky, Frisbees; Pez w/ dispenser; Nerf balls; sand box toys (pail, small shovel, etc); Bathroom in a Box- TOILET PAPER!!! (the soft stuff); razor refills; foot powder; bars of soap; fresh, clean, soft washcloth; travel size shampoo/conditioner; toothpaste; toothbrush; etc Ruck Sack Snack Pack- packed full of your loved ones favorite snacks¦.possibilities endless. Doritos; M&Ms; nuts; chips; dips; crackers; jelly beans; beef jerky; gum; etc. Breakfast on the GO- mutrigrain bars; instant oatmeal cups; small boxes of cereal; pop tarts; Hostess donuts: Otis Spunk Meyer muffins; cocoa; coffee; Tang; Tube O Tasties- Just as something different¦send a package in a tube instead of a square box. Make sure the parameters are acceptable though. Stress Reliever- back scratcher; bubble wrap; yo-yos; bubbles; squeezy tension ball; Sloppy Kisses- since we know chocolate melts over there¦.send a bunch of Hersheys kisses. Bound to be sloppy kisses! Im Nuts About You- peanuts; cashews; pistachios; peanut butter cookies; any candy or cookies with nuts in them; Nutter Butters; Peanut Lovers Chex mix; Fiddle Faddle with peanuts Rock On or Charlie ROCK- pop rocks; music cds Chili Today, Hot Tamale- hot tamales (candy); small cans of chili; red pepper flakes (like the ones at pizza parlors); salsa sunflower seeds; Cajun flavor Pringles; Spicy chex mix; Boston red hots; peppered beef jerky; taco bell hot sauce packets; Extreme Doritos; chili powder; nacho cheese sauce in a can; Tums/Rolaids , Jalapeño Ritz; And this little piggy went to the sandbox- (foot care kit)- foot powder; Dr, Scholls boot inserts; foot lotion; foot file; fresh, clean socks; toe nail clippers; scrub brush; odor eater balls for shoes/boots; foot soaks (either include a small bucket or large Ziploc bags to soak feet it) How do you eat your OREOS??!!- regular Oreos; peanut butter Oreos; double stuff Oreos; low fat Oreos; chocolate filled Oreos; chocolate covered Oreos; holiday Oreos Muchas Gracias¦Nachos Supreme- Doritos &/or Fritos &/or any corn tortilla chips; Mexican Velveeta; salsa (wrapped in bubble wrap); small can of olives (dont forget the can opener); bean dip; nacho cheese dip; small can of green chilies; jar of jalapenos (wrapped in bubble wrap); taco seasoning; small paper plates or bowls (so they can make their nachos); taco sauce (especially easy are those condiment packets from Taco Bell); You could also send the sauces from the various Mexican dinner kits (they also have tortillas in those dinner kits that are sealed so they would probably get there without molding or drying out); Taco Bell Nacho Supreme kit Sweet Tooth- Nerds; Gummy Bears; Laffy Taffy; Bubble Gum; Tootsie Rolls; Lolli pops; (any candy that wont melt) Pamper Party (for females)- Feminine hygiene products; shampoo/conditioner; hair barrettes and scrunchies (same color as their hair); facial scrub &/or soap; facial mask; lotion; shower gel; razors; facial moisturizer; tweezers; nail care kit; toner; special facial products (alpha hydroxy; eye cream; etc); Congrats on your promotion- congratulation party favors; all your loved ones favorites snacks; sparkled cider (wrapped in bubble wrap of course); etc. For the Fisherman- Goldfish crackers; tuna pouches; canned smoked salmon; cans of sardines; gummy worms; Go Fish card game; Field & Stream magazine; electronic fishing rod game; Sponge Bob Square Pants stuffed toy; fishing game toy (made by several different toy companies. Has a small fishing pole with a magnet on the end. Fish have magnets on their mouths); Say CHEEEESE!- disposable cameras; cheese dip; Doritos; Cheetos; Cheese nips; Better Cheddars; Velveeta; Kick Back & Relax- Dominoes; playing cards; magazines; books; music cds; crossword puzzles; jigsaw puzzles; word searches; hand held electronic games; squirt guns; water balloons; bubbles; hacky sacks; Nerf balls; board games (Axis & Allies, Clue, Trivial Pursuit, etc); Christmas in July- wrap everything in Christmas wrapping paper; peppermint flavored hard candies; Italian Stallion- Italian cheese Ghardettos; Pizza-licious Pringles; Pepperoni pizza Combos; small Boboli pizza bread; pizza sauce (for dipping Boboli); canned Ravioli, spaghetti, lasagna, etc; American Classics- Pez with dispensers; Cracker Jacks; Lifesavers; Necco Wafers; Pop Rocks; Nerds; Good & Plenty; Candy Necklaces; Candy cigarettes Deployed on Thanksgiving- canned turkey; instant mashed potato cups; hard breadsticks; gravy in a jar (wrapped in bubble wrap); Hostess apple pies; small can of corn (or other veggie); something special to cheer them up on Thanksgiving (pictures from home; magazines; tape recorded tape; small scrapbook; etc)