Paige LeClairHolidays are fast approaching and with many families separated due to deployments, now is a great time to send your loved one and friends care packages to boost their morale.
Haven’t sent a care package before, or need help coming up with new ideas? Care packages can be sent any time of year, with themes to fit celebrations, holidays, and much more. Follow our weekly series to create a personalized care package for your loved one.
STEP 1: Pick a Theme. For this example, we choose Advent Calendar to begin our series with, which consists of 25 individually wrapped gifts to open each day until Christmas!
STEP 2: Decorate interior of the box (sides, inside flaps, and bottom). Here is some inspiration!
STEP 3: Purchase and collect items that match your chosen theme. Need some additional ideas? Check out our items list below.
- Candy
- Santa Hat
- Christmas Ornament
- Festive Toilet Paper
- Chocolate Orange/Toblerone
- Mini Christmas Tree
- Gift Card- online movies, music, and games
- Chocolate Bars
- Mints
- Candy Canes
- Deck of Cards
- Pack of Gum
- DVD / BlueRay
- Card Game
- Board Game
- Puzzles
- New Wrist Watch
- Sunglasses
- Fake Snow
- Long Distance Phone Card
- Homemade Cookies
- Ball cap or Toque (depending on location)
- Family Photo
- Poem
- Handwritten Letter
- Christmas Ornaments
- Lego Kits
- Books
- Magazines
- Novelty Mug
- Word-search / Crossword / Sudoku Book
STEP 4: Include personalized items like handwritten letters, photos, children’s art, etc.
STEP 5: Address box clearly and tape box securely closed. Write and attach a list of the contents on the parcel. (Make sure to tell your loved one to not peek at the list).
STEP 6: Take the parcel to your nearest Military Family Resource Center (MFRC) shipping all year or to Canada Post for free shipping between October and end of December.
For more information about mailing care packages visit the National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces website here.
