Any ideas guys.

[DONNNAKEBAB]

My little girl came home with a shoe box today to fill for someone in the forces abroad. We usually do Operation Christmas Child which is great fun too. We have chosen to fill the box for a serving female soldier abroad aged 18 - 25 years and so far we have the following :-

1 x bar of Dove Soap.
1 x bar of Armani Soap for luxury.
1 x Gold ribboned make up bag.
1 x Betty Boop electric toothbrush
1 x whitening toothpaste.
Bath Salts.
Body Butters all flavours.
2 x skype sets of head phones with 2 x cards which give 30 minutes credit on each.
sun glasses.
glasses cleaners.
perfume.
a tiny operation game.
some sports socks.
hair scrunches in blacks, camoflage etc.
a letter from my 10 year old daughter.

We have a little more room .

Any ideas guys.

Thanks.

Katie. x

[I Love Snow]

Are you allowed any type of sweets?

[DONNNAKEBAB]

Knobby, lol, I bet the poor soul would die for a kebab and snow...............yes, sweets, thats brilliant............what do you think? all the old stuff, like refreshers, love hearts, all that ?

Thanks

Katie. x

[Caribeing]

Pen notepaper envelopes chewing gum crossword/puzzle book crossword solver machine. Joke book

[I Love Snow]

Yes, nothing that can melt or get really sticky. A packet of crisps. What about a minature body spray, hand cream, a face pack, shower gel, a packet of soft hankies or a nice soft flannel. Try and think of stuff that you would miss.

[DONNNAKEBAB]

Oh wow guys thanks, I will do all that tomorrow.

You are stars !

Thanks so much again. Tilly (my little girl is so excited now).

katie. x

[Jugglering]

Why not make up a compilation CD of your favourite tracks - that would really personalise the present. You could also include some nice quality emery boards and possibly some clear nail varnish.

What a lovely thing to do !

[I Love Snow]

If the toothbrush uses batteries remember to put in a few spare ones.

[~max~]

If the lady is serving abroad, it is likely to be a hot country. How about some high factor suncream, SPF lip balm, some refreshing facial spray (Breath of fresh air from Lush is great)? Bath salts won't get used, I don't think she'll have occasions to use a bath. Maybe a little battery operated hand held fan...How about a pashmina? If only to use for sleeping, it's lovely and soft. Maybe a mosquito repellent too, and a mosquito net?

[~max~]

Oh, and how about some of those miniature hair stuff from Boots? you can get Frizz ease and all.. Also, individual face masks and hair treatments...No reason why the lady won't want to pamper herself on days off. :O)

[sandrajo]

cotton buds, pack of cards, peanuts, cereal bars, hard candy, chewing gum...just remember Donna depending where they are posted some things are not allowed.

I got this is in a letter from my mate serving in Iraq:

Due to Army Policies and Regulations, we CANNOT ACCEPT these items:

HOME-BAKED FOOD
GLASS BOTTLES or GLASS JARS
AEROSOL CANS or SPRAYS
EXPIRED FOOD
CANNED FOOD
LIGHTERS, MATCHES or LIGHTER FLUID
HOTEL SAMPLES
VHS TAPES
HARD-COVER BOOKS
MUSIC CDS (We buy specific CDs troops request)

[hanhol]

thats a lovely thing to do. wonder how i can get my wee girls nursery to do something like that. did this come homw form school or is it your own idea?

[sandrajo]

sorry meant Katie not Donna...duh, lol xx

[banned-dot]

noone has suggested velvet cushioned toilet roll!!! have you any idea what they get issued with ??? Oh and put a miniature bottle of smirnoff in the tube!!!!!

One of those Mcvities chocolate or treacle cakes and a tin of custard would be very popular , all the previous i sent to mt nephew in the first Gulf Conflict in the early 1990s and i know for a fact they were really perfect!!!

[amonty1144]

If you buy the gift packs to send throufh the naafi, you can get a selection of magazines, so that might be nice.
Check the weight though as I think there is a limit.
Excellent idea, well done

[DONNNAKEBAB]

Hi ya . I am so moved at the response I got from you all. Thank you so very much for your wonderful ideas. We are off shopping on Saturday and I am going to print a copy of this to pop in the box so she will know how we all thought of her. Sandra jo. Your ideas are wonderful and the hotel samples being a no no was a good tip as I was going to put some in because they are small (not to save money or anything). Loved the idea of the loo roll. I love quilted loo roll and dont expect they get that in Afghanistan. Loved the idea of the pens and notepaper. I will put some stamps in there as well just in case they can post them through BFPO. Sun cream and lip balm a great idea, thanks for that. Max, loved all your ideas too.Thanks for that. Where would I get a mosquito net from

Hanhol, t is an idea from the school and we love doing it. The children get supplied with the shoe boxes and as we live facing the school, yesterday I saw all the children trudging home with shoe boxes under their arms and I got all excited thinking wooo I wonder what we have got to do today. In November, we do Operation Christmas Child which is even more lovely. You get a shoe box and a sticker, u pick & tick what you want to fill it with. i.e. A baby girl aged 0 -12 months, a girl aged 1 - 2, a girl age 2 - 5, same for a boy right up to aged 14. I filled 10 boxes for girls aged 8 -10 &7 boxes for a boy aged 8 - 10(my little girl is 10 so you can get right into the mind if ou know what I mean. It was fantastic. We were able to put small toys in there, sweets, soap, toiletries but most importantly stationary, pens, pencils, rubbers, rulers and exercise books as children in those countries can only go to school if they have their own stationary. We take so much for granted here and to think that some of these children have NEVER even seen a pen or paper makes me cry so anything we can do to help is great for us.

Thank you so much ALL OF YOU