[techres]

I usually send candy, reading materials, instant foods, drink mixes, and specialty foods like beef jerky, etc. Toothbrushes, toothpaste, basic medicinals are also good.

DO NOT SEND PORK OR PORN!

The field troops also appreciate handy wipes (baby wipes - unscented). If you send cleaning stuff (soap and detergent) go unscented for obvious tactical reasons. Zip lock bags are also a good deal. And feel free to cram the boxes full - i.e. unbox stuff that takes more space boxed than unboxed.

Our current Afghan guys say that candy is currency to them! So far no one has asked for smokes, but that is common.

Finally, cards. Cards are the lifeline to home. Send them. Get your kids to send them. Make sure they know that they are appreciated on the other side of the planet.

Scutter, you are up in Indy? I am down here in Btown. I was taking in donations from people in my area (the whole MSG thing) but would love it if you were the coordinating lead on this. If you made the contacts and we just let you know what and when we sent as posts to this thread that would work fine. Also, if you had specific requests then we could do our best to take those on.

By all means, take the lead. I think you can hereby be known as "Lead Procurement Scutter".

And one last thing. We should keep out an ear for any needs their families might need back here. Tread lightly so as not to insult any pride, but at the same time the ones that may need the most support might have never left our Hoosier back yard.

As they say, this is the Lord's work. So let's get to working.