| There are so many things we can do to share | | | | ear swabs, nail clippers, magazines, crosswords or |
| some joy and holiday cheer with others - even | | | | word puzzles, travel size games, pens, paper, |
| those living far away or stationed in the military. | | | | envelopes, prepaid telephone calling cards, Bible, |
| One of those things is to create and assemble a | | | | AA batteries, lighters. Liquid items should be in |
| holiday care package. Care packages can be sent | | | | travel size bottles, and the bottles should be |
| to people we know, but they can also be sent to | | | | labeled if you are using generic bottles, especially |
| people we don't know through ministries and | | | | for military personnel. |
| organizations who specialize in delivering care | | | | For college students, consider non-perishable food |
| packages for special causes. | | | | items such as soup mixes, hot cocoa mix, |
| Who are the people to consider? | | | | microwave popcorn, a disposable camera, |
| College students, active military personnel away | | | | stationery, school supplies such as mini-staplers, |
| from home, military families home and abroad, | | | | notebook paper, calendar, organizers, calculator, |
| prisoners, orphans, missionaries, disaster victims, | | | | etc. If you personally know the college student, |
| nursing home residents, hospitalized children, | | | | you can include family photos, personal keepsakes |
| unwed mothers or those in a crisis pregnancy, | | | | and gifts, stuffed animals and gift certificates to |
| single parent families, and special friends and | | | | their favorite restaurants or local grocery stores. |
| relatives who may be living far away. | | | | Many prisons do not allow prisoners to receive |
| How do I find mailing addresses for people I don't | | | | packages, and those that do have a list of items |
| know? | | | | that are accepted, for safety concerns. You will |
| Conduct a search on the internet to look for | | | | want to coordinate with a prison ministry to see |
| ministries who distribute to the specific people | | | | what the rules might be. Many prison ministries |
| groups you would like to reach, and speak to | | | | have pen-pal programs if you prefer this to |
| friends at church or in social clubs to ask for | | | | sending a package. |
| names of people who may like to receive a care | | | | Many pro-life ministries accept care packages for |
| package. Find out about the local organizations and | | | | unwed mothers or those in crisis pregnancies, and |
| ministries and ask about specific people you can | | | | they also accept them for older children. Things |
| help. Speak to the social worker at your school to | | | | like blankets, diapers, teething rings, layette sets, |
| locate a special family or child to bless. | | | | bottles, diaper ointments and wipes are welcomed. |
| What kinds of things should I include in the Care | | | | You may also enjoy hosting a party and asking |
| Package? | | | | guests to contribute items to your care package |
| This will depend on who will be the recipient. Here | | | | - or to help assemble several, including packaging |
| are some suggestions: | | | | and addressing them. |
| For military service men or disaster victims, | | | | There are many reputable organizations and |
| include things like toothpaste, tooth brushes, hand | | | | ministries which can be found on-line by |
| sanitizer, personal wipes, mints and hard candies | | | | conducting a search.Here are some places that will |
| (avoid things that can melt), combs, soaps, | | | | help you locate people for which to send your |
| shampoo, lotions, medicine packs (Tylenol, Advil, | | | | care packages and will accept them as donations |
| etc.), vitamin packs, Band-Aids, disposable razors, | | | | for others. |