Gifts to send to Afghanistan?

Penelope_Penguin

Chocolate brownies These travel really well - DH took some to China recently

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sassyblue

Hi, l'm going to ask a daft question now, can anyone send a package out there? I'd like to put together a couple of boxes for Christmas presents but l don't know anyone out there.

I always try to 'give something back' if you know what l mean, it took me years to get my little boy and now l've got my dream l'm always doing stuff to help others.

skylight

Sassy - not really. You are not allowed to just send one "to a soldier". They must be labelled and addressed to someone.

I can give you a couple of addresses and I am sure that there are others here who could give you some addresses. But you may get inundated!

zippychick

Sassy I can also provide you with my friends information.

PP thanks for moving this to the Forces board (and shame on me for not knowing it existed EEK)

Really helpful suggestions so far. Will get him some wipes too and keep thinking about the buns etc. Any other suggestions welcome :j

jockettuk

i would love some names and address for anyone.. mabey even females as im sure they miss certain items..

i dont mind being inundated but wont be able to send to everyone..

just need info on how much weight box size etc..

thanks

skylight

http://www.bfpo.mod.uk/faqs.htm#faqsoptelic

This is a good place for all info you need. Basically, parcels are to be no more than 2kg; more packet than "parcel" and need to have the full address of the recipient and yourself as the sender. Its free to send, but there are restrictions; such as no aerosols, no !!!!!! and chocolate is more sense than a rule (it can arrive liquidfied!).

13Kent

This isn't food or goodies, but I sent a Lifetimer Clock out -it's like a little alarm clock, but it can be set to count down to the date/time of important events in your life - and you can program it for when you are coming home!! My OH being a gadget freak anyway loved it!! Less than £20 I belive

Afterwards I thought I should have bought 2 - one for us too! - a good way for older children to count the days till he/she returns!

sassyblue

Thanks skylight and zippychick, is it free to send? I looked at that site and it is for OP Tellik and OP Herrick would they be the Afghanistan forces? Sorry to be so dumb.

zippychick

As far as I know, OP TELIC is Iraq, and OP Hellick is Afghanistan. It is free up to a certain weight limit i believe

Must have a look round this forum part

helsee

ok, not really home made but......

wet wipes, foot spray (the cooling kind?), hand sanitising gel, toth paste, lip salve, t bags/coffee sachets,snack food like pringles, nuts, sweets (not choc!)- especially in small sizes that will fit in bags and pockets!,undies, books, magazines (yes....sometimes the slightly smutty ones go down well! :-) ) paracetamol, immodium.

Dont send anything addressed to A Soldier or anything similar as it will be either returned to you or destroyed. Anything with "banned" goods in will be destroyed too. I have a list somewhere of what NOT to send il post it later when i find it. Best thing to do is get one or two persons address and details and send them plenty and let them share it about!

also check out a charity called SOS (Support our soldiers, I think) they send welfare parcels on a larger scale and also have a comprehensive list of what you should send....mine is just based on experience of what my family and hubby have asked for when away, not just in afghan but generally!