Care Package Ideas for Your Deployed Loved One! (Free Printable Included!)

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    I've written you about my youngest son Jacob a few times.   I told you when he became an Eagle Scout here and here. 
     I told you about when he was called to be a missionary in Africa, here. 
     It is hard to believe that he has been home from that 2 year mission for 3 years now.  He has also been serving in the National Guard during that 3 years, as well as going to school and working another job.  But, he was recently sent away on a year long deployment, so we are back to long distance communication.  
      When he was on his mission, it was very expensive to send him care packages and knowing that he had to move around a lot, we couldn't send very many things that he would have to carry around with him.  Now that he is deployed, the situation is much the same, but he has even less room in his luggage for unnecessary items.   So, everything that we send him needs to be consumable. 

     Jacob recently had a birthday, so I started racking my brain about what I could send him to help him have a happy day and let him know that we are thinking of him.  He was happy with what I sent, and I also spoke to him about what his suggestions would be for care packages in the future.  I thought that I would share some ideas for those of you who find yourselves in this situation.  Also, I am including a free printable of labels with jokes that you can attach to the items you include to lighten their spirits a bit more. 

    ​Reading Material:

    Books aren't a great idea to send because what will they do with the book after they read it?  But, some reading material could be a welcome change from TV or phones.  Depending on where your loved one is billeted, there may be a dearth of things to do during their free time. 

• Instead of an entire magazine, a copy of an article that they might find interesting and can then pass on to someone else or toss in the trash when they are through could be a good choice. 
• Sending a magazine or article electronically is also a great option. 
• Letters are always welcome!  

   Snacks:

      My son is very much into exercise and watching his weight.  Because of this, I didn't want to send him a lot of sugary snacks.  A few seemed appropriate for his birthday, but I mainly looked for some healthier options. 

• For his birthday, I sent him Little Debbie Birthday Snack Cakes. 
• Since he has a microwave in his room, Microwave Popcorn seemed like a great choice.
• A box of his favorite cereal
• Trail mix
• Nuts
• Beef jerky
• microwave soups and stews
• hot chocolate packets 
• Ramen
• Granola Bars
• Instant oatmeal
• water flavoring packets
• homemade cookies, (not that healthy, but always appreciated!)

   Personal Items:

       There are many consumable items that will need to be replaced while a soldier or a missionary is away.  Sometimes they are hard to come by in remote areas.

• Toothbrush and Toothpaste
• Breath mints
• Razors    (Don't send aerosol shaving cream in the mail. You might consider a couple of other products instead, like a shaving oil or soap.)
• Shampoo
• Body Wash
• Bars of Soap
• Deodorant
• Socks
• Pain reliever of choice, like Tylenol
• Cough Drops
• Sun Screen
• Chap Stick

    Last But Not Least:

• I always include a bit of cash in every package! Cash is always welcome and comes in handy.
  
• Gift Cards! Electronic or one you mail them
• An encouraging note! 
• Something to make them smile or chuckle

     That last item, something to make them chuckle, is what I went with this time. I found, heard and remembered various Dad jokes and one liners  that I found fairly funny and I printed some labels with a dozen of them that I thought my son may not have heard yet.  I stuck them on all of the items in his package to hopefully give him a laugh!  He actually thought some of them were funny, so that was a win!  You can get a pdf copy of these jokes to use however you would like!  Just click the button below! 

Joke Labels

     Let me know if you like any of the jokes! I my ideas will spark your ideas if you have a soldier or a missionary needing a good care package! If you share some of your ideas with me, I'll appreciate it because I'll be putting together another package soon! 
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