For July, we sew bags. For December, we sew stockings. At the packout both times of year, we fill bags and ship them to troops overseas. Needed items for packouts include:
- Hand and foot warmers
- Wipes
- Microwave popcorn
- CD’s and DVD’s
- White socks
- Crystal light (boxes which have individual packets for their water bottles)
- Beef jerky (small pkgs)
- Peanuts or sunflower seeds (individual pkgs)
- Chap stick, gum, sun screen; granola bars; etc.
- 6-packsize, dull colored soft sided coolers with a gel freezer pack…they can be found at Walgreens about $3 – $5.
- Microwavable dry foods (soups, mac & cheese, etc.)
- Soap
- Shampoo
- Toothpaste
- Deodorant
- Disposable Razors
- Q-Tips
- Beef Jerky
- Snack Foods
- Microwave Popcorn
- Cocoa packets
- Cider packets
- Air Freshener (Plug-in or stick-up type)
- Greeting cards – card stores will often give you the old ones they are throwing away if you tell them it is for deployed soldiers. We have no stores that sell cards here!
- Board games
- Current magazines (nothing racey)
- Word search and Suduko books
Rule #1:
Many smaller items are better than a few large items. For example, a package of ten snack-sized bags of chips is better than a single family size bag of chips. This way, the items can be distributed to more soldiers.
Rule #2:
Troops are thankful for anything we send
