Need military care package ideas? You’re in the right place.
Over the years, my pilot and I have navigated long distances and several deployments. Sending care packages became my way of brightening his days from afar, and I truly enjoy creating them.
Since many of you have husbands, boyfriends, family members, or friends serving in the military, I wanted to share some of the packages I’ve sent my pilot and the tips I’ve learned along the way.
Military Care Package Ideas, Inspiration, and Details
Let’s do this!
Valentine’s Day themed February box of love
- Mini kiddie valentines with a sweet note on each one.
- Red and pink paint sample cards filled with inside jokes and short notes.
- Love Grown Granola (a generous donation once fed his whole squadron).
- Warm Fuzzies for a nostalgic comfort boost.
- Valentine’s candy and assorted snacks.
- Individual hot sauce packets and other beloved condiments.
- Command strips for securing gear and uniforms.
- Hand sanitizer.
- Face wipes.
Spring Easter basket
- Ground coffee and a durable travel mug.
- Peanut butter and graham crackers for quick snacks.
- Annies Pizza Bunnies for a fun, compact meal.
- Assorted savory and sweet snacks.
- Emergency chocolate—ship with ice packs if melting is a risk.
- Easter eggs filled with notes instead of candy, some sweet and some funny.
- Magazines and books for downtime.
- Shredded pastel paper to make the box feel like an Easter egg hunt.
Care package tips and tricks
Never underestimate the power of many small notes and letters. Often the most meaningful items are free: a handwritten note, a doodle, or a memory shared on a scrap of paper.
Keep in mind that it’s unlikely much will come back with them, so only send items you’re comfortable parting with. (Full disclosure: I once sent a favorite Contigo mug—Paul, if you’re reading, please bring it home.)
When service members are extremely busy, they sometimes skip meals. Don’t hesitate to include a small emergency stash of easy-to-eat food. I learned this the hard way after Paul survived on a single blueberry Pop-Tart one day—now every package includes food.
Personalize magazines and reading material with Post-it notes and a Sharpie. Leave comments, jokes, or reactions on articles to create little moments of connection. One issue of Men’s Health once became a canvas of “That’s what she said!” notes—silly, but it makes them laugh.
Share your favorite care package ideas and tips in the comments! <3
I can’t wait to hear about the packages you’ve sent or received from loved ones.
Deployment by numbers
If you’ve followed this blog for a while, you might have noticed my posts have gotten a bit angsty, sarcastic, and more colorful. The longer I’m apart from my husband, the more I lean on humor and sarcasm to cope. That explains the off-color jokes and the inappropriate asides woven between recipes and everyday stories. I’d apologize, but if you’re still reading, you probably enjoy it.
Humor has been my deployment self-defense. When I get a little out of hand on the blog, I’m refilling my laughter prescription—plus a solid chuckle doubles as an ab workout.
While Paul has been away, I kept a running tally of small, strange, and funny occurrences. A few highlights:
Number of times I’ve locked myself out of the house: 3
Number of times I thanked my husband instead of God for the garage keypad: 3
Number of nights I declared wine and chocolate an acceptable dinner: 2
Number of toes broken: 1
Number of obscenities screamed when that toe broke: 8
Number of savory stuffed sweet potatoes devoured: [insert obscene number here]
Number of times I set off the smoke alarm: 10
Number of new batteries installed in that smoke alarm: 3
Number of gym classes attended: 130+ (in eight months)
Number of books read: 100+
Number of gray hairs discovered: 6 [$%&*!]
Number of times I dyed my hair because of those silver strands: multiple
Number of times I watched Despicable Me: 25
Number of times I swore I would need a straightjacket: 20
Number of times I was wrong about that: every single time.
And a huge thank-you—times 1001—to everyone who left comments, tweets, texts, and emails over the past year. Your support means the world. Love you fiercely. At the risk of getting cheesy: “You complete me!”
Hungry?
- Bruschetta Phyllo Cups
- Healthy Homemade Granola Recipe
- Homemade Trail Mix
If you try any of these military care package ideas, please let me know. Leave a comment below or tag your photos on Instagram so I can do a happy dance over your creations. I can’t wait to see what you make!