Supporting US and Coalition Troops

[Home]
[Adopt a Soldier] [Other Ways to Help] [Sending Care Packages] [News Sites] [Feedback/FAQs]
[Message Board]

UPDATE: Due to family and other commitments, I am no longer updating this page.

Due to the large volume of traffic this page has gotten recently, I've decided to expand it, and add more links to ways people can help US and coalition troops. I cannot vouch for the validity of any of these sites, and I encourage you to check them out on your own. PLEASE NOTE - I do not have names and addresses of service personnel to give you. See the list below for that.

Adopting a Soldier/Finding a Military PenPal

Operation Military Support - Send them your information, and they will assign you the name and address of a US serviceperson who doesn't receive much mail from family members. (Note: I have requested a name from this organization, and they put me in touch with My Marine.)
Operation Military Pride - They connect volunteers with servicepeople who are actively deployed around the world. (Note: I have requested names from this organization, and they have assigned two service personnel to me.)
Adopt A Platoon - This is another adopt-a-soldier program. For this one, you submit your information and wait for them to contact you if you are selected. They contact you by phone as part of their screening program. If you are a company, you can adopt an entire platoon.
Operation Mom - Offers financial and other types of support to members of all branches of the military. You can volunteer to put together a care package for them.
Any Soldier - Provides a list of names of military personnel in every branch of the service, so that you can send care packages to them.
Soldiers' Angels - They have an adopt-a-soldier program for those seeking penpals. They also provide support for wounded soldiers, as well as other services.

Other Ways to Help

Stand Up America - They are organizing a National Support Our Troops Day on April 26th. They have news about scheduled rallies, and how you can organize your own show of support.
Operation Interdependence - The only civilian group that is authorized to coordinate bulk packages to regularly-deployed service personnel. You can volunteer to coordinate packages, act as a driver, do community outreach, or donate funds.
USA Freedom Corps - Contains lots of information about how you can volunteer to help Americans, including US troops and their families.
CertifiChecks - Donate a gift certificate that service personnel and their families can use to purchase groceries at their commissaries. CertifiChecks can be purchased in amounts of $25, $50, or $100.
Operation Uplink - Purchase calling cards for military personnel and hospitalized veterans. Donate cards in the amounts of $25, $50, $75, or an amount you specify.
Operation Dear Abby - Send an email greeting to "Any Service Member." This is the online replacement for the old system of addressing mail to "Any Service Member", which the military will no longer allow.
Defend America - Sign a virtual thank-you card for the U.S. military. The text of the thank-you is "Thank you for defending our freedom."
USO Care Packages - Their mission is "to ensure the welfare of the men and women of the Armed Forces.
Operation TroopTrax - Works to get music to troops in the Middle East. You can contribute money, music, magazines, and comic books, and can offer a donation through Paypal or Amazon.
Books for Soldiers - Donate books to deployed service personnel, or donate money to those getting the books distributed.
NetPets - Adopt the pet of a deployed service personnel, or contribute toward the costs of maintaining military pets.
The Ships Project - They send hand-made items to deployed military personnel. If you are able to sew, knit, or crochet, you can make items yourself for sending. Otherwise, you can contribute toward shipping and other costs.
Armed Services Phone Cards - They give a 10% discount on calling cards for service personnel.
Red Cross - They provide counseling, financial, and other types of support to active-duty military personnel and Reserves.
Army Emergency Relief - They provide Army members with emergency financial relief when needed. Click "AER Campaign" for information on where to mail contributions.
Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society - Provides loans, grants, counseling, and other services to Naval and Marine personnel.
The Air Force Aid Society - Sponsors loans, grants and scholarships for Air Force personnel.
Coast Guard Mutual Assistance - Provides financial assistance to the Coast Guard community.
National Military Family Association - Identifies and resolves "issues of concern to military families."
Disabled American Veterans - Assists disabled vets and their families. Fully supported by membership dues and contributions.
Operation Gratitude - They send care packages to troops deployed overseas. You can contribute items for the packages, money, organize a collection drive, or write letters for the soldiers.
Marine Comfort Quilts - The name is a little misleading, since this is now an effort for all branches of the military. Their objective is to make a comfort quilt for the next of kin of fallen soldiers. If you're a sewer or quilter, this might be of some interest to you.
CampDoha.org - This site is committed to "compile information useful to service members deploying to the Middle East, as well as their families and supporters both at home and abroad." It is a not-for-profit, and is supported by donations.
123 Greetings - Send a free e-card in honor of Veteran's Day.

Sending Care Packages to Military Personnel

In the late 1980's, my brother was deployed as part of the U.S. military campaign into Panama. Because of his experience in deployment, I asked for his advice on what types of things I should send to the U.S. Marine I had recently "adopted" as part of Operation Military Support, and the servicepeople I was about to adopt through Operation Military Pride. I don't actually know if "My Marine" is deployed or not, but most of my brother's suggestions would actually work for any active servicepeople, deployed or not. Following were his suggestions, along with some other things that have either occurred to me in thinking about this, or been recommended to me by others. Remember that packages to deployed personnel may take anywhere from 3 to 6 weeks to arrive in the serviceperson's hands. There may be restrictions not mentioned here depending on the theatre your servicemember is in, so have your post office check the zip code you're sending to for any limitations.

• It has come to my attention that cigarettes are the #1 most-requested items by troops in "the theatre". Apparently, they're very hard to come by "over there". (Update: According to Marine Moms, cigarettes are the second-most-asked-for thing, after letters. Go figure!)
• This advice came from a soldier who was recently "in theater": "Having been 'over there', I can personally report that care packages are GREAT!!! However, let me add a bit of advice... If you can, find out where your troop is physically located before sending off a care package. I was located in Qatar and had shower access, so, baby wipes were not necessary. We did put together several pallette loads of goodies to send to our folks forward in Baghdad, so most of what we didn't need did get rerouted. Also keep in mind that the mail system is VERY sloooooooowwwwwww and unpredictable. My husband mailed three packages to me on the same day. One took eight days, one took two weeks and the third took five weeks to get to me!!!"
• Powdered Gatorade or other flavored drinks are good. They are light, and help flavor the water that deployed personnel have to drink. Don't send sugary drinks like pre-mixed Kool-Aid, since the sugar is dehydrating. Plain packets of Kool-Aid are ok. (Updated: I've gotten conflicting reports as to whether sweetened or unsweetened is preferable. Perhaps if you send unsweetened, you could also include small, Ziploc-packed sugar packets. For infantry troops that use Camelbaks for their water supply, Crystal Light-type products are the best to kill the nasty taste of the water. Sugared products will grow mold in the Camelbaks. "Products with Splenda (sucralose) are supposed to be better than those with aspartame.")
• Ramen noodles. As my brother wrote, "ramen noodles are the mainstay of the military field gourmet...light easy to carry and quick to cook and they really taste good when mixed with the MRE's." (MRE = meals ready to eat)
• Batteries, especially D's and AA's. If you send anything (like a Walkman or CD player) that runs on batteries, be sure to include plenty of replacements, and do not ship packages with batteries actually inside the electronic device.
• If you know your serviceperson is male, anything that's a stereotypical "guy" magazine - Guns & Ammo, hunting, fishing, hot rods. If he doesn't read it, he can trade it. Almost anything current is good. DO NOT send any current affairs/news magazines, like Time, Newsweek, or US News & World Report, as it will likely just piss them off.
• Stationery supplies - paper, envelopes, pens. LOTS of it. He/she might want to share with his/her unit. They don't need stamps, so don't bother.
• Homemade cookies. But be sure not to send chocolate, since it will melt. Send enough for him/her to share with a few buddies.
• Hard candy. Chocolate is dehydrating, and it will melt and make a mess. Gum may also melt, so if you send it, pre-pack it in a Ziploc bag. The soldiers who come into contact with local kids are handing it out to them, so send lots.
• Pictures - they'll make him/her feel like a part of your family. Doug (my brother) says these are very important for keeping up morale, which is really the point, right? Another friend suggested sending pictures of where you live/local scenery.
• Homemade cards, handwritten letters, pictures drawn by your kids (if you have them).
• Newspaper clippings and comics.
• CD's, if you know he/she has a CD player and you know what type(s) of music he/she listens to.
• Books, if you know what he/she likes to read. Mysteries are usually good. Paperbacks, please; no hardbacks (too heavy).
• Qtips and pipe cleaners, for cleaning his/her weapon.
• DO NOT send things that require refrigeration or a lot of preparation. Someone sent Doug a box of Instant Jell-o when he was deployed.
• Keep weight limits in mind. Your serviceperson will may either have to carry or throw away most of what you send if they're deployed. Try looking in the travel section of the Wal-Mart or drugstore for the smaller, travel-size items. (Update: This advice from a veteran of Gulf War I - "As far as sending them stuff, keep it light weight and small.  You mail it today, it gets in-country on Saturday, but the soldier may not get it for another 2-3 weeks.  So common sense on food type items.") (Update #2: This advice from a currently-serving Mail Clerk in the military: "Most soldiers have a regular base, and a room to sleep in. We can get bigger items, and the mail system isn’t as slow as it used to be.")
• Ivory soap - if he/she has to bathe in a river, it will float. Two small bars is better than one big one.
• Don't bother with shampoo; the cap will break in his/her rucksack and coat everything.
• Don't forget the ladies! Female servicemembers need "girl toiletries" like tampons, sanitary napkins, feminine wipes, feminine itch powder, and the like.
• Chew, cigars, tobacco, cigarette papers.
• Green or black boot socks
• Shaving equipment. Make sure the shaving cream isn't in an aerosol can, as some of those are being removed from packages. Send shaving gel instead. (Update: I've been told that shaving cream is preferred to shaving gel, since the gel clogs up and becomes unusable. A military sister writes, "Kiss My Face, Alba Botanica, and Tom's Of Maine all make shaving cream that come in tubes with screw caps, like lotion or sunscreen comes in." It is said to last a long time, and comes in fragrance-free - recommended so as not to attract bugs. "Those who REALLY want to spoil their soldiers could send them Philosophy's Razor Sharp," she writes.)
• Disposable cameras.
• Sardines.
• If you know they are deployed in the Middle East, they can use bug repellant (like Deep Woods Off) to keep the sand fleas off.
• Beef jerky. Be sure it's BEEF, though, since pork products are not permitted in the Middle East.
• Small packages of ground coffee or instant hot chocolate.
• Word games, like crossword puzzles, anagrams, word search games, etc.
• Nuts, sunflower seeds, trail mix, crackers.
• Sunscreen.
• Mail order catalogs, so military personnel can shop for friends/family back home.
• Big Ziploc bags, to store things in and keep them dry and sand-free.
• Seasonings for the MRE's, including Mrs. Dash, hot sauce, and Tobasco sauce. Don't send anything (like ketchup or soy sauce) in packets, because they may break and spill all through the soldier's rucksack.
• Quaker instant oatmeal (take the packets out of the box before mailing)
• Instant espresso powder (again, put the powder in a Ziploc-easier to transport)
• Waterproof sunscreen, sealed in a Ziploc bag. Aloe Vera lotion is good, too - the heat is brutal!
• Among the great suggestions sent in by the sister of a current Navy Seal: "MILK! Parmalat packs 2% milk aseptically and my local health food store sells it. When he was in Afghanistan, I sent him cream and ½ & ½ from Gossner. He wrote me the day he and his platoon had cookies with milk, you could have heard the HOOOYA they bellowed out, all the way to California. Expensive to ship, but a big, big treat."
• Baby wipes. My guess is that the unscented type would be best. Don't send a great big box of them - send a small box, and periodically send replacements. Better yet, send the individually packaged ones. You might try to find the larger-size hospital wipes, too, for "spot bathing."
• Include a card inside the package that gives your name, the recipients name, and the list of contents. That way, if a package breaks open during shipping/sorting, the contents can be reassembled and continue on to their destination.
• Toothpaste, toothbrushes, and dental floss. (Update: I've been told that soldiers are distributing dental care products to the Iraqi population, so extras would probably be very useful.)
• Deodorant
• Lotion. Remember, keep the bottles small, and put them in a plastic Ziploc bag before packing them.
• Toilet paper and small packages of Kleenex. Consider using the Kleenex as packing material for other items. Don't send big rolls of toilet paper - remember, they have to carry everything around. The Wal-Mart I went to had small (4.5"x1.5"), light rolls of travel toilet tissue.
• Throat lozenges
• Eye drops
• Lip balm
• Pain relievers, like Tylenol, Aspirin, Motrin, etc.
• Jock itch powder. Again, remember to pre-pack it in a Ziploc bag.
• Foot powder, packed in a Ziploc bag.
• Goggle-type sunglasses, and eyeglass wipes (in a small Ziploc, to help keep out the sand)
• Moleskin for sore feet.
• DO NOT send anything that is scented to the Middle East; it attracts bugs.
• Battery-operated shower.
• Blow-up kiddie pool.
• New brown T-shirts.
• Prepaid phone cards.
• Tuna lunch-to-go packs.
• Meal replacement drinks, such as Ensure. Look for the kind that come in lightweight bottles instead of cans.
• Chips in vacuum-packed cans rather than in bags, such as Pringles.
• If you know your soldier is in the desert or jungle, consider sending along a miniature personal fan, as well as plenty of appropriate-sized batteries.

News Sites

Defend America - The Department of Defense's news page about the war on terrorism.

Feedback/FAQs

This page has generated a considerable amount of feedback and email, all of which has been very encouraging. Some of it is included below. I have modified the format of some of my responses a bit, to make them more useful here.

"Wow...priority mail.  I sent a letter today in the usual way.  I plan to send another but I will do it priority next time.  Thanks for the information."

"I just wanted to send an encouraging word to anyone who is away from their loved ones at this time...the suggestions you give for what to send is just awesome. I've never seen such an detailed list. I just wanted to thank you, and I will pass your site on to others. I am the Mom of a US Marine. Grateful for the site you provide on the internet... {name deleted}"

"Thanks for what you are doing, and thanks to all the people out there who have joined together to help out the troops deployed throughout the middle east! Bless you all!!"

"I appreciated your list with the soldier's coments on what they liked in their care packages. I would like to make one observation however. One of the soldiers seemed dismayed that he received a box of instant jello. It was likely sent as a drink mix. When I was a kid we always used it as drink mix, and it was suggested to me last summer when it was quite hot that I send some. When I was a kid, we couldnt afford "the fancy stuff". I guess that soldier grew up the same as I did and rememebered how sweet and flavorful it was. It will kill the taste of just about anything. I guess perhaps if people send it, they should write on the box what it is to be used for, so as not to be misunderstood. I suppose I as a sender should not presume that everyone had the same childhood experiences I did. but not every soldier will think it is preposterous!"

Q. Hi my name is {name deleted}, I have recently adopted a soldier and I am trying to find an answer to a very important question but I'm not getting any responses can you tell me did the Department Of Defense put a stop to care packages? You info would be greatly appreciated.
A. I mailed a care package on Friday, March 21. At that time, the DoD was still forwarding all care packages to service personnel, at least according to my own postmaster. They are no longer accepting packages or letters addressed to "Any Military Personnel" or "Any Service Person", however, and there is a long list of restrictions, depending on which ZIP code you are sending to. You can find the list of restrictions at your local post office, or online (click Current Issue, then Overseas Military Mail). Update: I guess the answer is, "I don't know." I found the Department of Defense's statement online about sending unsolicited mail. I don't know if the Adopt-a-Soldier programs constitute unsolicited mail or not. I am sending an email to the organizer of Operation Military Support to ask her about this.

Q. Hi! I am german and looking for the address from the us troops in kuwait..we and a german class would like to support them! Could you please send it to me or find out for me. {name deleted} from germany
A. As an American, I thank you and your fellow classmates for your desire to support our troops. It means a great deal to me. If your class would like to adopt a soldier of your own, just fill in the form at http://www.operationmilitarysupport.com/volunteerstart.htm. They will respond to you with the name and address of a soldier than you can adopt.

Q. Hi . I found your website when I typed in "adopt a soldier" I used the link that you provided and am about to write to one. I was wondering if you knew how to wrap the package or if I can write my return address on it or on the outside of any letters. I've never done this and don't want to make any mistakes. I'm sorry to bother you, I just found your website helpful and figured you might know. Thanks. {name deleted}
A. I'm not sure what you're sending, so I don't really know how to advise you about wrapping it. If you're sending something breakable, make sure you wrap it in bubble wrap and cushion it with lots of packing material around it (foam peanuts, shredded paper, balled-up newsprint, etc.) If you're sending cookies, there's some good advice on packing those here. You should write your return address on the outside of the envelope/package; address it just as you would any other mail you were sending. God bless you for supporting our troops.

Q. Dana, thanks for all the suggestions!! Glad I know that about Chocolate, since I was thinking of making brownies! On the goodies note, how would you ship something like cookies? Get a tin? Will they still stay pretty fresh til they get over there? What other kinds of goodies would you suggest? what have you sent your marine? Thanks!
A. I packed the cookies I made, wrapped in twos in wax paper, in empty coffee cans. These I packed in a box, with plenty of foam peanuts around them to cushion them for transit. You could make bar cookies, or hard candy (if you know how to make hard candy). So far I've sent letters and a card I made, along with some pictures. I've sent a care package that has granola and fruit/grain bars, hard candy, powdered Gatorade, Ramen noodles, magazines, envelopes, pens, paper, and disposable cameras. And more pictures. :) My postmaster estimated the box would take about a week or so to reach the soldiers, depending on how far into the fighting they were, and whether they were outstripping their supply lines. I think homemade things will stay fresh long enough to get there. The cookies I made (peanut butter and oatmeal) should hold up pretty well to transit, I hope.

Q. I have "adopted a soldier", but have not yet mailed my package and letter.  I am concerned at this point because I have seen that the military now does not want strangers sending the troops mail.  I have spent quite a bit of money and was really looking forward to helping out.  Should I send it anyway?  I know you may not want to advise me on what to do, but YIKES, this is a bummer!!!   thanks, {name withheld}
A. I'm not a lawyer, so I can't really give any legal advice. My suggestion would be to send the package, if you got your soldier's information via Operation Military Support. My own rationalization is that the soldiers' own commanders submitted their names for the program, so it isn't unsolicited email. You've already spent the money for the items, so it's pointless to just let it go to waste. At least, that's my own opinion. Also, be sure to send the package Priority mail. It makes a HUGE difference in how fast they get the packages, as opposed to First-Class mail.

Q. I would like to write some of our troops that is over sea's or even get my kids in the class to draw pictures for them. How do I become a pen pal? I would like to do something to help the troops. I am an assistant at school and talked to the teacher of the class and she thinks it is a good idea. I need information on how to contact them and where to send the care packages. I will also talk to the principle of our school and see what he thinks about getting the community involved with the project.
A. The only information I have is the links I have posted on this page. I am not a coordinator of any adopt-a-soldier programs, so I can't assign soldiers to volunteers. You might try asking around your friends or co-workers to see if they know of anyone who has been activated to whom you could write.

Q. Hello. Thanks for all the information on your website. I received my soldier's name and address two days ago. We already sent off a letter and want to send a care package now. I got it through operationmilitarysupport.com. Anyways, do you know if the package is going directly to my soldier? I don't know if you have used them or not. I just saw the letter they send to the commanders and it says that the packages go to them to disperse. Do you know if this is the case? I really want the stuff to go to the solider who we are sending it to. I realize if he is not there or something then they can all share it. Thank you. {name withheld}
A. It is my understanding that the mail goes directly to the soldier to whom it is addressed, but you might want to write to Operation Military Support for clarification.

Q. Hi! I've adopted a soldier, and I've sent him a package. My question is: once I signed up to adopt, was my name given to the soldier and/or commanding officer so they know who the package is coming from when it gets there? Or should I include the organization's name on my return address? Thanks! {name withheld}
A. If I were you, I'd send a message along with your package to say how you got the soldier's name and address. I don't know if they are given your information or not - that would be a question for the group who gave you that soldier's contact information.

Q. I have been told that tobacco products are banned from being sent to our guys in Iraq because of the Muslim faith. If I send cigarettes to my son anyway....will they check the contents of these packages? Thanks, {name withheld}
A. I don't know if they will check the contents or not (my guess is they check random packages), but tobacco is not forbidden by the Muslim faith. You can't send alcohol, however, or anything that could be used to distill alcohol, since alcoholic beverages *are* banned by the Muslim faith. For a full list of what items can and cannot be sent, check with your post office. God Bless You and your son for his service.

Q. A friend recently shipped out and I was looking forward to sending a care package.  However the only address I have for him was at his base in Georgia, but I know he isn't there anymore. How do I get the care package to him while he is in battle? Just mail it to Georgia, and they will forward it to him? Please help answer my questions. Thanks-{name withheld}
A. If the address you have for your friend is an APO or FPO address, the mail will be sent to him wherever he is in the world. If it is a civilian address, it will only be sent to him if he filed a forwarding order with the post office. If you don't have an APO or FPO address for him, you could try contacting his parents or spouse, if you know how to contact them. Other than that, I'm afraid I have no suggestions. Good luck!