My wife keeps getting mailers from "support the troops" type charities that claim US troops in the field do not have access to personal hygiene items such as shaving cream and disposable razors, socks, etc.
They say troops have to buy these with their own money from portable PX's which run out of supplies.
She would like to know if this is a real issue for combat troops, and if so why, as that seems crazy?

The issue is real when they are deployed. They prefer things like unscented handi-wipes to keep clean. Not sure about the razors.

To know if the charity is legit, you will have research them online. Elkhunter here can also help you with addresses to send directly to the troops. His grandson is SF.

quote:

Originally posted by sjtill:
My wife keeps getting mailers from "support the troops" type charities that claim US troops in the field do not have access to personal hygiene items such as shaving cream and disposable razors, socks, etc.
They say troops have to buy these with their own money from portable PX's which run out of supplies.
She would like to know if this is a real issue for combat troops, and if so why, as that seems crazy?

I think it depends on the charity.

At the yearly, weeklong national sales meeting my pharmaceutical company holds in Vegas (1,000s of employees in attendance) they try to get everyone's mandatory volunteer work in at once...usually this is done by getting everyone into a HUUUUGE conference room having tons of chincy no-name toiletries brought in, and assembly line style, everyone puts their items into a bag...brushes, toothpaste, razors, etc...

Last year, the Red Cross was running it and they even had some Former Marine General come in and give us a pep talk before we got to work filling 40,000+ plastic bags with hygiene stuff for the troops.

I was surprised that they didn't already have the stuff available to them, but I'm sure it also goes to families and civilians in need etc...

Access to showers and washing facilities are often weeks apart. Base exchange facilities are often sold out of essentials, and a very large portion of deployed troops don't get access to a base exchange with any decent frequency. Imagine that the one time in 90 days that you get to stop by the BX, and they're out of what you need. Shop local isn't an option.

Not everyone has a family back home that can, or will keep you supplied with your needs. Often by the time you know you need something, it'll take weeks for family to send it to you anyway.

As to which charities are good or not, you can use guidestar, charity navigator, etc...but they really only work for charities that have undergone the 501c3 process and been around a while. Anyone collecting these items isn't likely to be doing it for their own profit, there simply wouldn't be any.

As to the claim that troops have to purchase hygiene items from a portable BX/PX, which often run out of these items...that is true. Prices are another factor. The reality is that troops get paid about $3-5 a day for per diem while deployed, and many lose their housing and food allowances when deployed. The Army and Marines are especially good at screwing over their troops when deployed, but all branches share similar bureaucracies which love to pinch pennies at the expense of the lower enlisted who are least equipped to deal with it.

Items which are appreciated:
Magazines/DVDs
Playing Cards
Beef Jerky
Beef Sticks
Drink mixes (single use pouches are best, water is usually distributed in 12 ounce plastic disposable bottles)
non-scented hygiene/baby wipes
small toothpaste tubes
deodorant (non-scented, good stuff---but don't send any liquid/gel,etc it just melts)
Razor blades or disposable razors & shaving cream (If you send a name-brand blade, someone will need it. Fusion, mach3, etc.)
Good hot sauce (smaller bottles)
Marboro Lights
Copenhagen


Other items to consider:
Saline Contact Solution, spare cases, glasses cleaners, gum, dry eye drops, letters of encouragement.

Don't bother with candy which can melt. Don't send anything that can't take exposure to 120F.

If unsure where to send items to, almost every veteran know someone deployed who a package can be sent to. If not, 2 phone calls can get an address. You can certainly send packages directly.

Cuetips. I forgot those. Useful for LOTS of things. Send them in the small cases. Send lots of those cases.

Thanks, AK!

Yeah, I'd reach out to get a name / address of someone in particular than just give to a large 'charity' beast that will eat 5-75% of the money feeding itself.

I remember you could make up gift boxes and send them to "any soldier".
Since I don't know anyone deployed, is this still doable?

quote:

Originally posted by Schmelby:
I remember you could make up gift boxes and send them to "any soldier".
Since I don't know anyone deployed, is this still doable?

The DoD stopped allowing that awhile back. Makes sense I guess, terrorism and all that jazz.

"Mail and shipments must be addressed to someone specific as addressing to "Any Service Member" is no longer permitted."

--- https://www.usps.com/ship/apo-fpo-dpo.htm

Thanks. I'll find another way to contribute

As others have pointed out, the need is legit, but the charities aren't always. Bare minimum, the charity has operating costs. Some are much better than others, but this eats into your donation.

Direct is always better. I'm sure the USO could coordinate a unit to send it to. We've done the assembly line care packages for work where the company buys the goodies and we assemble them. That seems to work well because the labor/coordination is donated too, and 100% goes to the troops.

Another big need that people don't always think of is the need for the basics (e.g., things like blankets, pillows, sweats, socks, beanies) at places like Walter Reed. We're close enough where a group of us will coordinate a drop off with the Red Cross rep there once or twice a year.

After 3 deployments to the middle east, I can say that yes they do need it shipped to them. Normally there is a BX/PX available, but normally small and under stocked, with limited choices. My last deployment to Iraq (FOB Warrior) there was over a thousand Army and roughly 600 Air Force plus sundry contractors, using this tiny little PX that was barely large enough to play racquetball in, and it was always empty. In the Air Force compound we could get Hygiene basics at the Chapel and sometimes a snack as well. Operation Desert Storm and Enduring Freedom were a little different because there was more money but Iraqi Freedom was quite different, it just seemed that everything was run on a shoestring budget.

This is important to me.

My company does this every month or so. We send them to our reservist that are deployed and to emploree's family members overseas.

Rather then contribute to a charity that you are not familiar with look for a local group that does it.

Local reserve centers, churches, USO centers, goldstar chapters, VFWs, And American Legion posts are all resources that, if they are not doing it, can point you towards a group that is.

Or, step up and organize a boxing party through your work, church, circle of friends, whatever you have. If no one in the group knows where to sent the boxes, this forum can hook you up with all the service members you care to support.

I am fortunate in that we have a veterans leadership council where I work at. Among other things, they collect donations and every month or so host a boxing party to pack up everything for shipment. The company also picks up the shipping cost by using our mailroom to ship everything.

Any little part you do will be appreciated 10 fold at the other end.