Want to help? Send supplies!

(This is a GREAT list posted by Vickie Fleck from her Marine Moms Facebook page.) AFGHANISTAN SUPPLIES

Below is a list of items that our Marines need in Afghanistan, in particular those that are at FOBs (Forward Operating Bases) as opposed to one of the main bases. The biggest differences between the FOBs and the main bases are, for the most part, no PX (where they buy the things they need), no laundry (they’re doing laundry out of ammo cans, and more likely than not no showers. I don’t know if the guys at FOBs are going out on patrols but am assuming they are so, remember that whatever you send, they have to carry in their pack that already weighs 100 pounds so multiple items in travel sizes are good.

BANNED ITEMS: PORK, ALCOHOL, PORN, HAND SANITIZER, FLEA COLLARS.

BASIC NECESSITIES:

T-shirts

Socks (Smart wool are excellent but expensive. I send them cringing that Sean has been throwing them away because of the stench)

Underwear

Vitamin C

Sunscreen (highs spf and sweat proof)

Neck gators

Lip balm (e.g. Chapstick, Carmex, etc…)

Condoms (for the muzzle of their rifles)

Gold bond

Band-Aids or Liquid Band-Aids

Mole Skin (now comes in rolls at Target)

Deodorant

Razors (that man baby who never could grow facial hair now has a caterpillar living below his nose and above his lips because a least that part of his body will be warm)

Shaving cream

Fly strips (not to wear, but to hang in their tent. There are no “facilities” and they are using bags to relieve themselves and burning afterwards. Flies are a problem. 5 strips for $0.99 at Lowes)

Shampoo (regular as well as “waterless”)

Sunscreen

Toothbrush and toothpaste

Hand warmers, foot warmers and any other kind of warmer!

Hand lotion (unscented)

FOOD SUPPLIES:

Beef Jerky

Granola and Breakfast Bars

Power bars

Peanut Butter (Squeezable)

Honey

Tuna (including Tuna Kits) and Chicken in Pouches

Instant pres-sweetened drink mix (NO Juice Boxes)

Coffee

Tea

VegAll and other vegetables in the small cans

Canned fruit

Any canned meat (BUT NO PORK OR PORK “FLAVORED”)

Tabasco Sauce

Condiment packages from the fast food restaurants (salt, pepper, ketchup, relish, mustard, Soy Sauce … ANYTHING!

Tobacco products

FOR THOSE AT AN FOB WITH A CAMP FIRE!

Dutch oven – a 5 qt fits in an FPO flat rate box!

Pre-packaged meals:

Home-style Bakes, Tuna Helper (take them out of the box and put the pouch (es) in a zip loc vacuum bag with the directions cut out from the box. On the outside of the baggie, write which can of stuff it goes with!

Instant Potatoes (instant anything!)

Rice (boil-in-bag variety)

Beans

Spices (pepper, salt, Accent, garlic salt, sugar and the like.)

Soups

Chili

Canned spaghetti sauce

Spaghetti and other noodles and pasta

Velveeta cheese

Crackers

Flour and/or Bisquick

Bisquit and Cornbread mixes

Mixing bowls (with lids to be used as storage)

Mixing spoons/other utensils (don’t bother with knives – Your Marine has one bad-ass knife with him!)

Aluminum foil (Reynolds Wrap has one small enough for the FPO prepaid box)

Bowls

Spoons

Freezer storage bags to store what they don’t eat everything right away

AND FINALLY THE ULTIMATE: Graham crackers, chocolate and marshmallows for S ‘mores to remind them of ho