A PIECE OF HOME: CAREFULLY CURATED CARE PACKAGE IDEAS FOR DEPLOYED SPOUSES
Care packages have long been an integral way for deployed service members to stay connected with their families and loved ones. While email is a great way to stay connected, there is just something special about receiving something tangible via “snail mail.” This gesture really goes the extra mile to help a service member feel appreciated and loved while they are away. My husband, Ben, deployed three times from 2010-2012. During this time, care packages, for better or worse, became a regular staple of our life and marriage. Here are just a few of my spouse’s favorite items that he received while deployed:
Card Games
Card games are a great way for service members to pass the time and decompress after a long day in the field, flying, or more. At the end of a busy day, these activities are great ways for service members to come together, unwind, and relax while spending time together.
Card games are usually easy to include in care packages because they don’t take up much space, and are often inexpensive to purchase.
A simple deck of cards or even a fun game such as a Liars Dice set are great additions to include!
Some additional fun items that you might consider packing could include:
- Magazines or books to read
- Board games
- Puzzles
- Plastic model kits
- Baseball gloves/baseballs
Shelf-Stable Snacks
Non-perishable snack items such as beef jerky, nuts, dried fruit, and granola bars are great staples to include in your service member’s box.
These items can be easily stored in their stateroom on a ship or bunk on a base for a quick snack on the go in between designated meal times. My favorite brands are Chomps for their 100% grass-fed and finished beef sticks in a variety of flavors, as well as That’s It Fruit Bars for their clean ingredient profile.
Sweet treats such as candy are also always a hit! Fortunately for deployed service members today, my friend Eloise Patton here in Annapolis owns a boutique candy and gift shop called The Sugar Shoppe. Eloise and her friendly staff will happily assemble, box and ship care packages of candy to any APO/FPO address.
The best part?
They generously offer a standing 10% military discount! Just give them a call and they can take and place your order for your service member over the phone, taking care of the process from start to finish.
Sun Protection
Sunscreen is an item that is often overlooked as a “must have,” but is something that service members should definitely have on hand at all times over the course of their deployment.
When my husband was deployed flying missions over the 5th Fleet, he would often be up in the air for 8+ hours at a time, so using proper sun protection was super important.
Tip: Opt for sun protection alternatives that are mineral based, such as those that have zinc-oxide, over chemical based.
These formulations are not only safer for human health, but they are also safer for the environment and oceans!
Some of my personal favorites include the Sheer Zinc Sunscreen Spray from Babo Botanicals and the Protect Sunscreen from Counter.
Hand Written Cards
My Dad always taught me growing up that a hand-written card is ten times more meaningful than a store-bought card. Fortunately, including this gesture in your service member’s care package is completely free!
Ways to get creative with cards could include collecting cards from family members, or even your child’s preschool or sports team if you have young children.
My husband’s squadron’s Ready Room was adorned with hand-written cards for the duration of their various deployments. They were often decorated with stickers such as these patriotic finds from Amazon.
Over a decade later, he still remembers this thoughtful touch and element that helped bring a smile to his face while away.
Recordings & Videos Sharing Heartfelt Messages
Videos and voice recordings are a great way to hear one another’s voice and check-in on day-to-day life. Sharing short “thinking of you videos” is a great way to maintain connection despite the distance. Sharing daily things that are happening at home can also help the two of you feel closer.
When my spouse was deployed, I used SpeakSake, a company that allows friends, family members, and loved ones to record audio messages for a service member, and then compiles and burns each message onto one consolidated disk.
I then sent the link to our friends and family just before the holidays, so that my husband’s network could all wish him a Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and Happy Birthday (January 5)!
Receiving this gift was one of the highlights of the deployment for him. Hearing the actual voices of his friends, family, and support network went such a long way to making him feel connected to those back at home, even while away.
What Items Can’t I Send in a Care Package?
While planning the care package you plan to send to your spouse, it is important to keep in mind that not everything is suitable to send in a care package.
Here are some items that you’ll want to avoid sending:
- Aerosols or pressurized products
- Perishable foods
- Alcohol or tobacco products
- Weapons and ammunition
- Offensive material
Use These Ideas as a Starting Point for Curating a Care Package
In closing, carefully curating care packages to send to a deployed service member are an important part of staying connected and helping your spouse, family member, or friend remember that they are missed back at home.
Fortunately, impactful items do not have to be expensive or time consuming to find. Items such as card or group games, shelf-stable snacks, sun protection, hand-written cards, and even a video message are all great additions to make your care package stand out from the rest.
We hope that you found these care package ideas helpful. Let us know what items you have included in care packages to your spouse.
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