Troops have little storage and must carry 50 lb + in gear.
The smaller the items the better. THINK CAMPING!
"U.S. Troop Care Package"
uses the U.S. Post Office Flat Rate Priority Boxes
to send Care Packages.
The box is approximately 8 ½” x 11” x 5” deep.

Baby Wipes
(Used for bathing in lieu of showers)

Laundry Soap
(Small Single-Load Packs, Trial Sizes, or 'Tablets')

Liquid, Bar, or Waterless Soap

Shampoo, Conditioner

Lotion
(Tube Only)
(For rough, dry skin)

Sunblock, Aloe Vera

Hand Sanitizer

Liquid Body Wash
(Used also for shaving)

Deodorant
(Roll-On or Gel Only)

Shaving Cream
(Non-Aerosol Only)

Eye Drops
(Relieves irritation from sand)

Saline Spray/Drops
(Sensitive nasal passages)

Kleenex
(Individual Packs)

Toilet Paper
(1” x 4”)

Q-Tips
(Travel Packs)
(Used to clean ears and guns)

Feminine Hygiene Products, Tampax

Disposable Razors
(2-5 Pack)

Baby Powder, Foot Powder
(Used on  body and in boots to keep dry)

Dr. Scholls Moleskin
(Pads for sore feet)

Blistex, Vaseline, Carmex
(Squeeze Tube)

Toothpaste, Toothbrush

Mouthwash

Dental Floss/Picks

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

MAG Lite (Flashlight), Bulbs and Batteries

Insect Repellent (Deet)
(Pump Action or Towelettes)

Hand Warmers

Writing Paper, Envelopes, Pens

Games and Puzzles (Hand Held)

DVD’s and CD’s
(Movies and Music)

Hand/Foot Warmers

PLEASE WATCH FOR FOOD EXPIRATION DATES AS
WE CAN NOT SEND FOOD ITEMS THAT HAVE EXPIRED DATES

Chips - Doritos, Pringles, Corn and Potato Snacks
(2-3 oz. Plastic Containers or Individual Snack Packs)

Dips
(9 oz. Plastic Containers or Cans)

Trail Mix, Poppycock, Butter Toffee (Popcorn)
(7-8 oz. Snack Packs)

Crackers, Cookies, Power Bars
(12 oz. or Individual Snack Packs)
(Cheese and Crackers, Peanut Butter and Crackers)

Cereal
(Individual Boxes or Plastic Cups)

Cheese
(Plastic Squeeze Container)

Fruit and Nuts
(6-8 oz. Dried or Canned Snack Packs)
Apricots, Bananas, Cherries, Mixed Fruit,
Peaches, Pineapple, Rasins)

Pudding, Jell-O
(Squeeze Tube or Snack Packs)

Soups
(15 oz. Plastic Containers)
(Campbell’s Soup at Hand)

Lasagna, Ravioli, Spaghetti, Mac & Cheese, Chili,
Beef Stew, Chicken n’ Dumplins, Noodles & Chicken
(7-15 oz. Plastic Containers)
(Chef Boyardee/Nalleys)

Chicken, Turkey, Salmon, Tuna
(7 oz. Easy Open Packs)
(Chicken of the Sea/Bumble Bee)

Tea, Coffee, Hot Chocolate,
Apple Cider, Powdered Drinks
(Individual Servings)
(Chrystal Light, Kool Aid, Country Time, Smuckers, Capri Sun)

Spices
(Sweet, Sour, Spicy, etc. - Tabasco, Season Salt)
Sugar (Packs) and Creamers)
(MRE’s – (Meals Ready to Eat)
become bland (boring) over time and need flavoring)

Gum, Lifesavers, Hard Candy

“U.S. Troop Care Package,” “Operation Comfort,” sends pillows to our deployed U.S. Troops and needs help from the community with the following:

MATERIAL and THREAD
Donated fabric that may include scraps.  Minimum size 13” x 13”.  Knits and thicker types of fabric are discouraged.  All colors and patterns are welcomed.  One yard of fabric makes 3 pillows.  You may also donate fabric that has been cut and stitched on three and one-half sides, according to the instructions shown below.

FIBER FILL AND LABEL
“U.S. Troop Care Package”
has 100% Polyester Fiber Fill and Labels available for the pillows.
The label attached to each pillow reads:
“Operation Comfort”
“U.S. Troop Care Package”
Tri-Cities, WA U.S.A.

VOLUNTEERS
To help cut, sew, and stuff the pillows. 
(See our Calendar page for details)

FABRIC CUTTING DIRECTIONS
Using 45” material, fold in half and cut 26” long strips.  Open the fold and then fold the material in the opposite direction.  Cut 13” long pieces. 

SEWING DIRECTIONS
Sew a label onto the outer side of one 13” x 13” piece.  Using two 13” x 13” pieces, face the right sides of the fabric together. 
Sew a ½” double-stitched seam on three sides.  On the remaining un-sewn side, sew a ½” double-stitched seam from each corner towards the center approximately 4”. 
Leave about 5” open in the center to allow room for stuffing.  Reverse the fabric and stuff the Pillow making sure the corners are full. 
Don’t overfill, as each Pillow must be rolled into a log for mailing.  Sew the opening shut, creating a 12" x 12" finished pillow.

“NECK COOLERS”

“U.S. Troop Care Package,” “Operation Comfort,” is also sending neck coolers to our deployed U.S. Troops and needs help from the community with the following:

MATERIAL and THREAD
“U.S. Troop Care Package”
has tea-dyed muslin pre-washed fabric available as the fabric and color must meet military regulations.  One yard of fabric makes 8 Neck Coolers.

CRYSTAL FILL AND INSTRUCTION CARD
“U.S. Troop Care Package”
has the Crystal Fill and Instruction Card available for the Neck Coolers.

VOLUNTEERS
To help cut, sew, and fill the neck coolers. 
(See our Calendar page for details)

FABRIC CUTTING DIRECTIONS
Using 44” to 45” material, cut the fabric 4 ½ inches wide by the width of the fabric.  Fold the fabric lengthwise and face the wrong sides of the fabric together. 

SEWING DIRECTIONS
Using a 2 mm stitch length, stitch one short end and continue stitching along the length of the strip using a ¼” seam.

Press the seam open and then turn the strip inside out.  Press the Neck Cooler with the seam to the side.  (Pressing the seam to the back would put the seam next to the neck.)

Measure 12½” from the stitched end and stitch across the fabric.  Using a long-necked funnel, (a two foot length piece of ¾” thin walled plastic pipe or a piece of rolled paper), place between ½ teaspoons to ¾ teaspoon inside the Neck Cooler.

Measure 12½” from the open end and stitch across the fabric.  Turn the open end under and top stitch.

A card will be attached to each neck cooler giving the instructions for its use.

“KNITTED AND CROCHETED BEANIES”

“U.S. Troop Care Package,” “Operation Comfort,” sends Knitted and Crocheted Beanies to our deployed U.S. Troops and needs help from the community with the following:

YARN

All colors and patterns are welcomed.  Crochet or Knit according to the instructions shown below.

“CROCHETED BEANIE”

Use 4 to 6 ounces of yarn, depending upon the thickness of the yarn.  The pattern is written for use of chunky yarn.  Fill in appropriate numbers for the yarn chosen.  Crochet hook sizes F or G for sport weight yarns, size H or I for worsted weight yarn, size J or K for chunky weight yarn.  Check how you crochet with the yarn and choose the correct hook.  The Beanie is worked top down.

CH 5, Slip ST in first CH to form a circle.

ROW 1:  CH 2 make 9 DC in a circle.  10 DCS.
S1 st ON ch 2 TO CONNECT.  (12) (14).

ROW 2:  CH 2, make 1 DC IN same ST.  * Make 2 DC in next ST.  * Repeat .  * * Around.  20 DCS.
S1 ST on CH 2 to connect.  (24) (28).

ROW 3:  CH 2, make 2 DC in next ST.  * Make 1 DC in next ST, 2 DC in next ST.  * Repeat.  * * Around.  S1 ST on CH 2 to connect.  30 DCS.  (36) (42).

ROW 4:  CH 2, make 1 DC in next ST, 2 DC in next ST.  * Make 1 DC each in next 2 DC, make 2 DC in next DC.  * Repeat.  * * Around.  S1 ST on CH 2 to Connect.  40    DCS (48) (56).

Check the size of the Beanie and go to row 5 to make it bigger.

ROW 5:  CH 2, make 1 DC each in next 2 DC, make 2 DC in next ST.  * Make 1 DC each in next 3 DC and make 2 DC in next ST.  * Repeat.  * * Around.  50 DCS.  (60) (70).

To make larger, go around once more to 60 DCS.  When using fine yarn you may need more STS around to make the Beanie big enough.  Always check the size of the Beanie.  Work even with the established STS round and round to get abut 8 to 9 inches.  Go around 1 row of single crochet and finish off.

“KNITTED BEANIE”

Use 4 to 5 ounces of yarn in bulky weight.  16 inch circular needle size 10 ½ and a marker.

Cast on 64 STS loosely with 10 ½ circular needle.  Place a marker on right hand needle tip.  Knit entire Beanie in a circle.  Do not twist the cast on STS when you join.

ROW 1:  K2, P2 across.

REPEAT ROW 1:  As a pattern, work even for 8 to 10 inches.

FIRST DECREASE ROW:  K 2, P 2 tog.  Across 48 STS.  Work even for 2 rows.

SECOND DECREASE ROW:  * K 2 TOG, P 1 * Across.  32 STS.  Work even for 2 rows.

Begin working half the stitches on either a double-ended needle of the same size or another circular needle of the same size.

THIRD DECREASE ROW:  K 2 TOG.  Across.  16 STS.  Work even for 2 rows.

Begin working half the stitches on either a double-ended needle of the same size or another circular needle of the same size.

LAST DECREASE ROW:  K 2 TOG across. 8 S.  Work even for 1 row.

Take up 8 STS with yarn needle and squeeze the top and tighten.  Fasten.

CROCHETED PRAYER HEART

Size:  3 Inches across at the widest point. 

With a size G crochet hook chain 2.

Row 1:  2 sc in 2nd ch from hook; ch 1 turn. 2 sc.

Row 2:  2 sc in each st; ch 1 turn. 4 sc.

Row 3:  2 sc in 1st  st, sc in each of next 2 scs, 2 sc in last sc; ch 1, turn.  (6 sc.)

Row 4:  Work 1 sc in each sc across (6 sc) ch 1 turn.

Row 5:  Work 1 sc in each sc across (6 sc) ch 1 turn.

Row 6:  S1 st in 1st sc, 5 dc in next st, sl st in 3rd sc, sl st in 4th sc, 5 dc in 5th sc, sl st in 6th sc, ch 1, don’t turn.

Border:  Sc in end of each row to point, 3 sc in point, sc in end of each row to beg of 5 dc shell, *1 sc in 1st 2 dc, 3 sc in center dc, 1 sc in next 2 dc*, sl st in space between shells, repeat from * to *, sl st to join to 1st sc. End off. Weave in ends.

The finished Prayer Heart is placed in a 2 ½” x 3 ½” plastic zip-lock bag along with a message to the troops.  Example:  “This heart was handmade with love.  Keep it with you as a reminder that you are not alone.  God and our prayers are always with you.“

CROCHETED PRAYER SQUARE OR GRANNY SQUARE

The finished Prayer Square or Granny  Square is placed in a 2 ½” x 3 ½” plastic zip-lock bag along with a message to the troops.  Example: “There are prayers stitched in every square for comfort, encouragement, love, and hope for your safety and well being.  When you feel lonely or need comfort, reach for me in your pocket.  You are not alone-God and our prayers are with you always.“