Hi, just found this sub from a different thread. I would love to be a pen pal for someone, and send care packages when I can! Pm me if you're interested(:

So, this is going to seem kind of weird...

I very recently broke up with my serious boyfriend who is going to be deployed to Afghanistan within the next several days (though I do not know the exact date). He is going to be there a year, and I really regret breaking up with him, but all I can do is move forward at this point. I know that being out there alone is going to be difficult for him, but I understand that he doesn't need the additional emotional strain from a poor foundation for our relationship after our breakup and he has his brothers and sisters in uniform to watch his back. However, it tears me apart that I can't be there for him during this difficult time. While I understand that he doesn't want to talk to me, I would like to extend the opportunity to be there for someone else who is deployed, who might not have anyone in particular back home to write to, or perhaps they have someone back home that's on their mind, but aren't with them for distance/other reasons. This is strictly platonic, and my heart still belongs to him, so I'm NOT looking for anything remotely suggestive. I would prefer someone who is also in the Army like he is, as I might have questions about things he may encounter while he's deployed (basic things, but things any family member or significant other might worry about, ya know?) and would appreciate someone who would be understanding of that. If you have a romantic side for someone back home that you would like to talk about, that's also welcomed as it would be nice to discuss any sort of relationship advice from an unbiased party.

Now that we got that super long disclaimer out of the way, I'd like someone to be able to send care packages to every once in a while (like maybe once a month or every two months or something), along with letters back and forth. I'm kind of a PC gaming nerd at heart, having played things like WoW, RIFT, Minecraft, League of Legends, Skyrim, etc. But I was a total Nintendo fangirl growing up so the Legend of Zelda series will always have a place in my heart. I was born in the 90's, so obviously Pokemon is the best thing since sliced bread and I admit, I even got Pokemon X at midnight. However, don't let my gaming side fool you, as I'm often referred to as an "old soul" by many I encounter in life. I'm an open book and I think that we can learn a lot about people just by learning from their experiences, their pain, and their success. If you have a story, I am more than willing to listen. I suffer from depression and anxiety, so please don't let anything you have experienced or encountered along your journey make you afraid to reach out to a stranger.

Since our breakup, I'm really trying to focus on getting my act together by getting in shape and going to the gym more often, as opposed to just lounging around the house playing games so I haven't been keeping up on the new stuff like Titanfall. Instead, I've been trying to cook healthier meals and workout more, which is what I had planned to do while my ex was away anyways. Would like someone who is around my age (please nobody over 27) and may also have a nerdy side to them, despite being in the military. I know the kind of man I'm trying to reach out to is likely few and far between, but I do believe there is one nerdy soldier out there who wishes they had someone who cared in the States and I would like to be that person for you. (:

Basically what it says. My brother was in Afghanistan not too long ago and now I have no one left to send things to :(

Great subreddit to have, and appreciate you all. I'd like to extend the goodwill offered here by suggesting a list of people you can contact in theater to lend a helping hand to fellow redditors, friends, family, etc. I'll start with me: dontLikeRockets; mobile, mostly in Bagram

I'm sending a care package to a soldier and her unit overseas. I am currently waiting for my USPS boxes to come in (military kit) these are provided for free to anyone to send care packages to soldiers overseas.

I am currently gathering items! I have a connection with someone who works for tastycakes (Philadelphia), so I'll be sending some of those over. I also will be sending chocolate items (since it is now cooler in the dessert and the chocolate has less of a chance of melting). I went to some other subreddits (army, military) and asked about what items the soldiers would like/want/need overseas and I got many responses.

Here is a list of items that were given to me (and this is a collaborative list of all who responded to me- sorry for any duplicates)

• jerky

• cookies (homemade is the best)

• hard candy

• baby wipes

• tobacco products

• random movies

• cards against humanity

• Tobacco - Even if they don't use them they are great for trading.

• Hard Candy

• DVDs

• Foot Powder

• Black Cotton Socks - NOT DRESS ONES! (Or even better black tops with white bottoms)

• Cheap Sun Glasses

• Magazines

• Newspapers from their hometown

• Portable DvD players

• Combs

• Razors

• Gatorade

• Coffee (Military Coffee is bleh)

• Board Games (Not 2 player ones please allow for 4 or more.)

• CamelBaks

• American tobacco products. Foot powder.

• chef boyardee products with the pull open lid

• Campbell's soup at hand

• those packs of cheese and peanut butter crackers

• drink mixes.

• I also craved the hell out of hot Cheetos with lime, but that was me.

• Dip, and when you've think you've sent enough double that amount. Even if your soldier doesn't dip, dip is a HUGE bartering tool. Yes, bartering. Deployments are sometimes like being in prison.

• Gushers, fruit snacks, energy drinks that aren't Rip It.

• Oatmeal Cream Pies or Swiss Cake Rolls.

• Any of the powder or flavor packets that you pour into water bottles.

• A flash drive loaded with movies/tv shows if you want to get really fancy. I was going to say that also the flash drive loaded with movies and tv shows. Not only will you be helping that soldier out with entertainment he or she will share with at least 5 other people and those 5 with another group of 5....shit gets around good.

• Chocolate products. You can not buy chocolate in the summer since it just melts.

If anyone is interesting in donating any of these items, please PM me and I will send you my address OR I can come and pick up the items at any time (if you are local to me). And a BIG BIG THANK YOU in advance!!!

Write to me and escape!

But seriously, you want a badass penpal? You got yourself a badass penpal.

Kung fu fighting, nunchuck wielding, macaroni and cheese eatin' badass. (Okay, I am really only one of those... sorry).

Send me a PM, I want to know what you're terrible at. We can fill our days with sweet bullshit.

-Heather

My whole family is military so just showing some love.

I have a friend in Afghanistan right now and I asked him if he needed anything. He told me that he didn't need anything in particular, but he would share with his fellow Unit members. So I have researched care package info and this is what I have found:

You can not ship Pork products, alcohol, and porn. He said that they are not allowed to receive tobacco products either. Also if you are going to send food it can not be homemade. No chocolate during hot seasons. It also can not be expired, or be expired by the time it gets to the soldier. It takes about 14-21 days for it to get to them. If you send toiletries it must be in a store brand bottle (for allergy reasons) and its better for them to have it in travel sizes. As far as shipping, USPS has free boxes specifically for apo/fpo addresses that are $12.95 no matter what the weight is. These boxes are not very big. USPS info

That being said I got ahead of myself and bought so much stuff, which got very expensive. So now financially I can only send two boxes this month, because it does add up, and the boxes aren't very big.

When I talked to him also, he told me there are 3 female soldiers in his unit, so I decided to make a care package just for them.

Female care package *Razors, Mascara, Nail polish for their toesies, Nail polish remover wipes, Womens travel size deodorant, Body Spray, Girly smelling lotion, Variety pack of tampons, Shampoo and Conditioner, Travel size manicure sets, Bobby pins, hair ties, Cosmopolitan magazines, Lip smacker chap stick

Other stuff So this is a list of stuff I got for my care packages:

*Socks(White), Toothpaste, Toothbrushes, A LOT of baby wipes, Shampoo, Conditioner, Aspirin, Water Guns-it gets up to 130-140 degrees in the summertime, Water balloons, Books, Crossword/word search books, Batteries, little flashlights for reading, We are going to download newest music of 2010 and Newest movies, and a few TV shows on a flash drive for them, Body wash (and some other stuff, but I can't think of right now)

Food:

Jack link strips, Cheetos, chips, gum, twizzlers, nuts, Crystal light packets, Snapple packets, Sun flower seeds, hot chocolate packets. --and a whole bunch of other stuff

*If you send food and toiletries together, make sure to double seal the food up or vice versa so it doesn't end up tasting like soap.

Well I hope this helped!

Hello to the person who’ve come across this! My name is Chloe but I go by Ashanti. My boyfriend is in Navy training, in Chicago right now. He’s been there for 4 weeks, he has been sending me letters(to my grand parents address) so his letters goes there. I’ve been using this Sandboxx app that was requested from him to send my letters to him on. I sent him 2 letters so far but I feel like he hasn’t gotten one AT ALL I sent them from my address so if he did get one of the two letters I’ve sent so far he would’ve gotten my address. I’ve sent him a letter on 14/10 from the Sandboxx app and it said that it was delivered to him every letter I get from him I can tell that it’s days or weeks old. I put my number into one of the letters in hope that he’ll call that’ll let me know that he got my letters. Can anyone give me any kind of advice, I’m a very emotional wreck right now I one get his letters but he’s not getting mine. He’s been telling me that he needs to hear from me because he’s feeling discouraged, and I don’t want him to think that I’m not writing him because I have:((((

Hello all! As a non profit organization we collected enough supplies for 13 care packages and they are ready to be sent out, our only problem is we don't have any soldiers to send them too! If you know a service man/woman who would appreciate a box please pm the address! Thanks! We will try to send letters throughout the year as well... God bless :)

The packages will not be huge, but I will make something for you :). Anyone is fine, just looking to make someone's day.

More sand to the moooooon

Hey everyone as stated above MCM Crew Leader is currently deployed. They were scheduled to be back before Christmas but were told that they wont make it back now until June :( A lot of these guys haven't got families at home (the life of a minesweep on this rotation is not easy on marriages) and even the ones with families are struggling to smile this year. My husband is the MWR (Morale Welfare and Recreation) guy for his ship so I would love to have some packages send to his ship for them!!! There are about 70 Sailors on board the USS Warrior over there in the desert. If you need some ideas of what to send my husband made a wishlist for himself before going over here so it has some general stuff they like www.amazon.com/registry/wishlist/25HJWZWY020ID They all love sweets and treats and video games and they have a huge group of guys that play either D&D or Magic the Gathering on board.

I know it's easy to get in Iraq and most big bases in the Stan, but anyone that is at an FOB or COP (that can get mail), send me your info and I'll put you on my list of people to get a bunch of Dip (and other goodies) next time I send out a package. ETD is probably going to be April....since I'm not stateside for a while.

Last package I sent went to the boys over in the JSC right before Christmas.

Marine currently deployed to Bahrain looking for a female to chat with and what not while im on deployment. Not necesarrily looking for romance but wouldnt be opposed :)

Hi there, I'm a 25 year old female looking for a pen pal. If there are any military personnel that would like a pen pal, or are in need of some support, please feel free to ask me for my email address.

Serious people only.

Little about me: I am the moderator of a local high school's Support Our Troops club, where we send out care packages and so forth.

We had put a slinky in one of the boxes, and we got a thank-you letter home from the commanding officer of the 8th Maritime Expeditionary Security Deployment.

So, I had this great idea. Send them a bunch more slinkies. They love them over there, and slinkies are inexpensive.

If you are going to participate and donate a slinky (or any small sports item like tennis or handballs, please let us know in the comments. We will then PM you with instructions on how to and where to send the slinkies. Thank you!

Hello! I've been looking into sending letters for a while now, and I'm finally ready to give it a go! I'd love to send letters or postcards to anyone who would like to receive them! Please pm me with your address! I hope to hear from some of you. Also, you don't have to tell me, but I'd love to know what branch of the military you are in!!!

Anyone have the addresses off hand already of where to mail a package, I have some stuff to send. I have heard chew is pretty popular. Anything forbidden to send besides the obvious? Ready to participate but totally clueless to the rules