Need ideas for my cousin in Iraq

**Granola** · 09-25-2007, 11:50 PM

So, my dear cousin is off to Iraq in the next few days for an entire year...he has a 6 year old son and wife and law school to finish, it's all really bad news.

I want to send him some fun surprises, but inexpensively...thrift is less an issue since hey, if the boy wants me to send him store bought cookies or socks I will be more than happy to! However, besides specific requests, what would be good things to send? I can sew and knit well.

I am thinking I will make a fun Halloween pillowcase, make some cookies, and....? I am aware of all the standard things they have on website guidelines to send: soap, ciggs, etc...got any new or creative ideas for fun things to make and send?

**leezza** · 09-26-2007, 12:22 AM

How about some artwork from his son in a crafted frame from you.

you could make him a scape book of pictures of the family at your family get togethers so he can feel a part of things..........

you could get everyone to write him a letter each week and send it off in a neatly decorated envelope.

leezza

**baronmom** · 09-26-2007, 07:26 AM

You could make a Cd of the new music that comes out that he may like, any newspaper articles that he may find interesting, cereal bars, and snacks, a dvd of his family (we have a dvd recorder so I did this),

**staceyy** · 09-26-2007, 07:37 AM

You could send for internet freebies and send these to him periodically as they accumulate. Do a Google search for "Men's Freebies".You'll be able to get things like razors, deodorant, toothpaste etc.

**jamie79** · 09-26-2007, 08:20 AM

Telephone calling cards, lotion for their feet is very important too. Stamps and stationary or cards so he can write home. If you know his wifes and sons b-days anniversary etc cards for that too so he can send them .

**guest002** · 09-26-2007, 08:51 AM

Use the flat rate boxes from the USPS...you can weigh them down as much as you want and it's one set price. Plus it's priority mail and will leave the states faster. When my dh was there we used that a lot.

My dh always asked for beef jerky.

It all depends on what his mission is there and what support services he has on what he'll need. (Don't post any of that info on the 'net)

Fun seasonal decor items for Halloween, Thanksgiving, etc. are always fun.

**Nada.Leona** · 09-26-2007, 11:41 AM

Find his favorite sports team (hockey, baseball, etc.) and record the games on a VCR or scrapbook a bunch of the games' information for him! I bet he'd love that!

**Mom23boys** · 09-26-2007, 09:56 PM

Originally Posted by PaulaPAFW

Use the flat rate boxes from the USPS...you can weigh them down as much as you want and it's one set price. Plus it's priority mail and will leave the states faster.

I was going to suggest the same thing. When I send packages to Iraq, I always use these boxes because it doesn't matter how much they weigh.

Magazines, books, cds, homemade goods, jerky, etc. are always great. I know some like to recieve green socks and H&B items.

**baronmom** · 09-26-2007, 10:04 PM

Originally Posted by jamie79

Telephone calling cards, lotion for their feet is very important too. Stamps and stationary or cards so he can write home. If you know his wifes and sons b-days anniversary etc cards for that too so he can send them .

Be very careful of what type of phone card you send. 100 minutes will only get you about a 5-10 min. call. The exchange rates are very high. AT&T calling cards work best. You can get them at Walmart, but make sure they are internationl. I use to get 500 minutes at a time, and they only lasted a few calls.

**Granola** · 09-26-2007, 11:56 PM

You ladies are brilliant- these are WONDERFUL suggestions! He is going to be so thrilled!! Thank you!!

**guest002** · 09-27-2007, 09:08 AM

About phone cards...go here (my frugal tip

)

http://www.operationuplink.org/request.cfm

You can request a phone card be sent to them once ever 60 days.

My dh received at least 4 of the phone cards from Operation Uplink over his 2 deployments so they do get them.

Also, when folks asked what my dh needed if they could help out and there wasn't anything in particular at that time I'd ask them to make a donation to Operation Uplink.

**Luv2BeFrugal** · 09-27-2007, 01:43 PM

I temped in an office that was sending out MASSIVE quantities of flat rate boxes with all sorts of "treats" to the soldiers in Iraq (it was really fun to help out). They got donations from hotels and businesses - small soaps, lotions, etc.

With the cash donations they would buy: individually wrapped snacks, socks, handi-wipes, magazines, travel size toiletries, CDs, batteries (for CD players), gum, hard candies, purell (or the like), decks of cards, crossword puzzles, etc.