Support Our Troops: Send a Halloween Package to a Soldier

Support a soldier in Iraq by sending them Halloween in a Box. Send this package to a soldier from your hometown, or you can adopt a soldier online through programs like Soldiers' Angels, My Soldier, or Any Soldier. You can brighten up any soldier's day by sending Halloween decorations, candy, and other Halloween-related items. Also, you can get together with a local group from your church or school to gather enough Halloween supplies to send to a whole unit of soldiers.

This is the perfect time to mail a Halloween package, as there are still four weeks left until the holiday. Your soldier will appreciate getting Halloween items early, especially if you include supplies for them to decorate with. This article will guide you in selecting Halloween-themed items that are safe to ship and will fit in a flat-rate USPS box.

Send a soldier Halloween decorations

A cheap and easy to pack decoration to send is orange and black crepe streamers. You can find these in your local supermarket or Wal-Mart. Some other small Halloween decorations are rubber spiders, mice, and bats. You can fit a lot of these Halloween critters into your box, and they can be packed into those small, awkward gaps between bigger items. Other fun and small decorations are Halloween-themed balloons. Your soldier will appreciate the chance to brighten up their sleeping area and celebrate this traditional American holiday. Check online at www.buycostumes.com if you cannot find these supplies locally.

Send a soldier Halloween candy

Make sure that all of the Halloween candy you send is factory-sealed, and then stored inside multiple layers of plastic bags. This will prevent the candy from picking up the tastes of rubber and whatever else you package it with. Avoid sending chocolate Halloween candies, as these will probably melt before they get there. A good choice is the Halloween classic, candy corn.

Send a soldier Halloween cookies

Make sugar cookies and icing to decorate them with. Color your icing orange, and spread on your cookies to make them into pumpkins. Then you can use thin lines of black icing to draw faces on your pumpkins, making cookie Jack o'Lanterns. Like the candy, the Halloween cookies should be stored in several layers of Ziploc bags to keep freshness and taste.

Send a soldier a Halloween costume

Give your soldier a chance to dress up for Halloween. Simple costume items that can easily fit into a package include capes, false teeth, and Halloween make-up. You can make a cheap cape yourself from Halloween fabric from your nearest Jo-Ann's store or Wal-Mart.

Send a soldier Halloween cards and letters

You can decorate your own stationary in a Halloween theme to write to the soldier. For ideas, search online for Halloween clip-art to print out or copy by hand. Kids may also enjoy sending Halloween drawings and cards to support the troops. Also, be sure to send the soldier some blank Halloween cards and envelopes to mail Halloween greetings to their family, or to share with other soldiers.