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What Items Are Requested by Soldiers
We
send American soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan and the Middle
East everything from sheets, towels, fans, heaters, food/snacks, socks,
water bottles, coffee, toiletries, games, DVD's to duct tape, batteries,
extension cords, tools, bungee cords and converters. Anything to make their stay a little easier and brighter and to help them feel the comforts of home.
Some of the more requested items are beef jerky, batteries (AA and AAA), soft packs of baby wipes/body wipes (great for summer), DVD's, drink mixes, socks (plain white or black with no logos), phone cards, books, magazines, games, snacks, tuna packs, canned fruit. Many do not have the capability to heat food but some have microwaves and small refrigerators.
Many of the females do not have access to feminine hygiene products. On occasion, soldiers may have access to PX's (post exchange stores) but most do not carry a huge supply and are often depleted.
Certain items cannot be sent: pork, liquor, and religious items offensive to the Islamic faith. Also no glass containers, pressurized items, and during the summer, nothing that melts (chocolate).
A general breakdown of types of goods sent:
CLOTHING - white or black socks, plain color clothes (do not want anything that would make you stand out as an American in a crowd), caps, underwear, scarves.
FOOD - beef jerky, drink mixes, tuna packs, canned fruit, fruit bars, candy, coffee.
TOILETRIES - lip balm, suntan lotion, moisturizing lotion, shampoo, soap, feminine hygiene products, deodorant.
RECREATION - Batteries, DVD's, CD's, phone cards, books, magazines, books of puzzles, games.
OFFICE SUPPLIES - Greeting cards, stationery, pens, journal books, diaries, small storage containers.
MEDICAL / FIRST AID SUPPLIES - Bandaids, knee and ankle braces, foot powder, insect repellant, disinfectant.
DAILY LIVING - Consider soldiers in close quarters who sometimes cannot take showers for weeks on end - room fresheners, deodorants, car fresheners, and wipes are some of our most consistently requested items. Fans, heaters, containers and bottles of all kind, power converters, blankets, sheets, towels.
*FOR KIDS AND ADULTS IN THE MIDEAST - Many, many items are requested by our kind-hearted soldiers specifically to give to the kids and adults in Iraq and Afghanistan. Backpacks, toys, candy, school supplies, shoes, socks, soccer balls.
The list is not meant to be comprehensive - just an outline of some items requested. Even simple things like "hooks" to hang things in tents are seen as the greatest of gifts.
And again, please keep in mind that we don't have a receiving warehouse. We store the donated items in our homes in the Dallas area, so we aren't capable of receiving truckloads of merchandise. If you have some items to donate, we would just request that you contact before making any shipments to discuss the logistics of your shipment. Thanks for your consideration.
You may email Airborne Angel Cadets of Texas at
support@airborneangelcadets.com.
Our
mailing address is: P.O. Box 116691, Carrollton, TX 75011-6691 USA