Care Packages for Pagan Soldiers

This year the Pagan Alliance is partnering with the Upper Midwest Pagan Alliance to do a project to aid our community in collecting personal and magical supplies for Pagan soldiers in the Iraq and Afghanistan war zones. www.umpaganalliance.com/care.shtml. You can drop off the donations at the Pagan Festival Information Booth on 5/7/11. If you cant attend the Festival send your donation with someone who is, or contact johanna@thepaganalliance.org for shipping info.

Many groups simply need basic ritual supplies, ITEMS MOST REQUESTED:

HERBS: Mugwart , Angelica, Bone Set, HoreHound, Holy Thistle, Roots of Mandrake, Juniper, Aloe, Pepper, Musk, Vervain, Saffron, five finger grass , heather , rue , high john root , sea salt Basic pagan books : Candle magic spell and charm books Basic Wicca Norse Path Moon magic Pagan magazines Basic Ritual or Altar: Black, White Altar cloths Small Wands Small travel chalices Small God and Goddess statues Stones : small for weight! ~ any type quartz crystal ~ obsidian points ~ hematite

Candles : pillars in jars tapers wrapped tea lites In magical colors Incense and oils: dragons blood , frankincense , myrrh , red sandlewood , high john, sage, white sage , sweet grass, cedar , patchouli , elemental or directional oils Pagan Spiritual Medallions: Pentacles , Ankhs , Awen symbols, Thor's Hammers, Sun symbols , Moon symbols , Goddess and/or God symbols , Green Man/Woman symbols , Wheel of the Year symbols

Other items Pagan Music, Meditation: CDs & DVDs Gift cards that ship international PERSONAL ITEMS: Toothpaste Blank greeting cards Prepaid phone cards Lip balm Instant coffee Gum Breakfast bars Instant soup mixes Sunglasses

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Great information from Lou/MomHen:
Things to keep in mind:

• They have extremely limited space for personal belongings; small is good, except food-to-share, where big is ok within limits.
• For combat troops on the move, they'd need to be mobile; lightweight is good
• They're gonna get bounced around a lot in any combat zone; durable is good
• Perishables (things with freshness dates) need to be moderately long-lived and able to tolerate heat.
• Some herbs (and some foods) have restrictions on shipping, and sage smells amazingly like cannabis DO NOT SEND IT.

Please note that postage for these packages will be increasing in one week. Nothing we can do about it - just plan on paying more.

On the mundane side of the coin -- these sites have good tips and suggestions, whether or not they are trying to sell the pre-made packages:

opgratitude.com
A_Soldiers_Blog_Care_Packages
operationshoebox.com
thefuntimesguide.com
care4troops.com
anysoldier.com
is another site (and a huge one were you can actualy connect with soldiers and they can tell you what they need) that helps you send care packages to soldiers. They have good tips, and many manufactorers offer discounts on thier goods and will ship them for you to a soldier.

What NOT To Send in a Care Package.
From equipped.org

• * Anything that melts (if you just must send chocolate, send M&Ms)
• * Waterless Hand Cleaner/Sanitizer - generally makes mud, wipes are preferred
• * Flashlights - Everybody has one and never gets to use it due to visible light discipline restrictions.
• * Compass - Everybody SHOULD already have one attached to their Load Bearing Vest/Harness
• * Sun Screen - already issued in mass quantities, drowning in the stuff
• * Liquor of any sort
• * Pornography of any sort. This includes "soft porn" such as Playboy magazines.