Adopt a Unit

Suggested Care Package Items

We've asked our soldiers what they'd appreciate finding in their care packages. Below is a list of suggested care package items that Middletown can send to cheer them up while they are so very far away from home.

Food & Snacks	Cards & Letters
Hygiene Items	Banners & Posters
Entertainment & Sports eg: games, DVD movies, Nerf footballs
Other Personal Items eg: linens, socks, t-shirts, flashlights, cigars
Original list (compiled by Middletown resident who served in the Middle East.

All suggested items can be dropped off at any of our drop off-locations.

PLEASE REMEMBER: Aersol (SPRAY) Cans CANNOT be shipped. Batteries must still be in their original packaging in order to be ship. Thanks!

Food & SNACKS:

• Beef Jerky / Slim Jims
• Flavored Coffee (Hazelnut, French Vanilla, etc..)  (Ground or whole; instant or drip), Hot Chocolate packets, Herbal teas
• Instant Drink Mixes (Gatorade, Kool-Aid, Crystal Light)
• Sunflower Seeds (salted)/Pumpkin Seeds
• Tuna in foil pouches (no cans)
• Protein Powders / Protein Bars / Cliff Bars
  • *NO CHOCOLATE PRODUCTS accepted from MARCH to OCTOBER (it will melt in high temperatures!)
• Hard Pretzels / Cheetos / Fritos / Chex Mix / Wheat Thins
• Chewing Gum (Orbit, Eclipse, Dentyne, Stride, etc..)
• Granola Bars / Power Bars / Cereal Bars
• Small Packs of Fig Newtons, Oreos, Cheese-Its
• Trail Mix, Dried Fruit, Granola, Fruit Roll-Ups / Fruit By The Foot / Fruit Gummies
• Dry Soup (Ramen Noodles / Cup-O-Soup: just add water)
• Nuts: Peanuts, Mixed Nuts (salted)
• Microwave Food (Popcorn, Chef-Boy-R-Dee, Mac'n'Cheese...)
• Cookies / Girl Scout Cookies (with chocolate: Oct. - Feb. only!)
• Cheese & Cracker packs
• Condiments, Spices; Sugar; Salad Dressing
  (NO GLASS JARS)
• Oatmeal Packs (Instant: just add water)
• Cereal (Small, individual boxes)
• Rice Krispie Treats (Store-bought only)
• Caffeinated gum or candy (to stay alert)
  

Hygiene Items:

• Baby wipes (travel size)
• Liquid Hand Sanitizer (travel size)
• Body Wash, Liquid Soap, Facial Cleanser
• Shampoo /Conditioner (travel size)
• Hair Gel (for female troops to pull hair back)
• Combs / Brushes, Bobby Pins
• Eye Drops (i.e. Visine)
• Nasal Spray
• Deodorant (travel size)
• Razors (disposable: "Intuition" or "Mach 3" type)
• Shaving Cream  (No spray cans)
• Cotton Swabs (i.e. Q-tips)
• Band-aids, Gauze Pads, First Aid Kits
• Lip balm / Chap Stick / Carmex
• Baby Powder & Foot Powder (No spray cans)
• Loufa Sponges / Buff Puffs / Washcloths
• Tissues (individual packs; travel size only)
• Sunblock, SPF 45, Zinc, Vitamin E, Aloe Vera Gel
• Bug Spray / DEET / Skin-So-Soft (No spray cans)
• Hand & Body Lotion / Moisturizer (travel size)
• Mouthwash (travel size)
• Toothpaste & Toothbrushes & Dental Floss
• Vitamins (multi-vitamins are always needed!)
• Breath Mints / Breath Strips
• Lozenges / Cough Drops
• Nail files / Emery Boards / Nail Clippers
• Feminine Hygiene Products
• Cotton Balls
• Moleskin
• Shoe Insole Cushions (gel kind is best)

• Batteries: “AA” "AAA" and “C” are the most requested. (Must be in original packaging please)
• DVD Movies (new or used) (No VHS tapes please)
• Xbox Games (new or used)
• PS2 Games (new or used)
• Music CDs (new& used) (No cassettes please)
• Portable CD players / head phones
• Small homemade gifts - little comforts of "home"
• Pens & mechanical pencils
• Stationery & Envelopes; blank cards to send home
• Double-sided tape
• Crossword Puzzles / Word Search Books / Math Puzzle books / MAD LIBS / Logic Problems / Sudoku
• Yo-Yo's, Dominoes, playing cards, poker chips, dice
• Board games (UNO, Othello, checkers - travel size is great, too!)
• Nerf footballs / Whiffle balls / Mitts / Sports equipment
• Frisbees / Hackey sacks
• Electronic handheld games
• 35 mm disposable cameras

Other:

• Cigars
• Linens: Pillow cases, twin sheets, towels (green & tan)
• T-Shirts: Cotton tan under shirts (Sizes: M, L & XL)
  [Note: The DoD banned "Under-Armor" shirts due to its material being potentially flammable & bad reactions to open wounds.]
• Laundry Detergent
• Small Flashlights (battery operated)
• Air Fresheners (No Spray Cans!)
• Socks: Black, Olive Green & White (cotton or wool)
• Patriotic knick-knacks, USA flags, New Jersey Flags, bandanas, baseball hats, football jerseys, banners.
• Small alarm clocks (battery operated)
• Generic sunglasses
  Fly swatters, fly paper, mosquito netting, bug repellant in plastic pump bottles only (NO AEROSOL/SPRAy CANS, PLEASE!)
• Religious booklets, small bibles, inspirational readings
• Small toys & school supplies for Iraqi children
  

Cards & Letters: The troops love to hear from all of us - Mail brightens their days!  These are the MOST IMPORTANT items we can send the troops & we can never have too many, so please keep writing!

Our troops do not need stamps as they're in war zones & may send mail home to you and their loved ones at no charge. However, it does cost their families money to send them letters and presents. Stamps will be given to the Family Readiness Group. (FRG)

Banners and Posters: Consider making a patriotic banner or poster to send in one of our care packages!

Orginal List: (compiled with the help a Middletown resident who has served in the Middle East

• Pillows,
• sheets,
• towels,
• AA and AAA batteries,
• resealable storage containers,
• eye drops,
• athlete’s foot spray,
• foot powder, (No spray cans)
• A&D Ointment,
• Neosporin,
• green socks,
• Nerf footballs,
• black bungee cords,
• spices,
• dental floss,
• scrub brushes for boots,
• room deodorizer, (No spray cans)
• fly swatters,
• antacids,
• instant coffee,
• shower flip flops