Ways to Support Our Troops in Iraq

There are many ways to support our troops. Here are a few that will make you feel good, and require little to no investment, other then postage!

One of the most popular ideas is to bake cookies for the troops. What you do is bake home made cookies and send them to solider on duty. There was an article in Women's Day about a woman who bakes cookies for the troops. She did it threw This website called Treat the Troops. She then started sending care packages too. These little things mean so much to the troops. She then got her community involved and the help off set shipping costs, and even donated items for her to send over. The website is run by a lady called The Cookie Lady. Here is her special message:

"Every soldier deserves home-baked cookies, and I wish that I could provide them to all. However, the energy and the funds necessary to fulfill all the requests that I receive every month make it physically and financially impossible. I wish it were not so. To you, our soldiers and your families, I offer my heartfelt thank you for your sacrifices and my prayers for your safe return. Many heart hugs, "The Cookie Lady."

One of my favorite websites is Soldier Angels. This site allows you to adopt a soldier. Here you HAVE to send one letter or card per week and 1 care package a month. The adoption lasts for 6 to 8 months depending on length of deployment. You sign up at the website and they will send you the name and address of a soldier you are to sponsor. If you don't sponsor this person nobody will, they only get one sponsor. So only sign up if you are serious!

BrandonBlog.com is a site run by a soldier, with many ideas for care packages, and sites to help sponsor soldiers, and many ways to support the troops. This site is very informative, and a must read for anybody who wants to help our troops.

There are many things you can send in care packages. Make sure to tailor your package whether it is for a male or female. Here are a few ideas to help get you started:

Chewing gum,toothpaste, pocket comb, toothbrush ,razors, Kleenex, dental floss, chap stick ,foot powder, bobby pins, shampoo, conditioner, Q-Tips, socks, gloves, cough drops, Midol, Antacids Tabs, soap, Vitamins, chips, hard candy, crackers, Beef Jerky, Cookies, dried fruits, Nuts, Cup Of Soup, Toilet Paper, Magazine, Heating Tablets, P38 Opener, Plastic Utensils, Book, Writing Material, Batteries, Game, Neosporin, Journal, Word Puzzles, Homemade Cookies, detergent, Feminine Stuff.

Brandon states, "When sending your own care package: Care packages should include food such as beef jerky, candy, gum, reading and writing material, personal hygiene items and news from home. Care packages should never be bigger than a shoe box."

Once you recive your soldier your first letter should introduce your self and ask what he/she wants or needs, also find out their hometown. It may take a while to for them to get back to you but don't give up! Send a letter each week try to include stuff from their home town and maybe a newspaper from there every so often, if possible. Don't be surprised if you NEVER here from him or her until they are back home. Many don't have time to write when in the field.

I hope this gets you off to a running start. I will write more, when I find some more good ways to support out troops.