Send your soldier a Valentine's-themed care package.
February 14th: the day for valentines, cupid with his arrows, roses and heart-shaped boxes of chocolate. If your soldier is away from his loved ones on Valentine's Day, you can sill make it special by sending a care package to him. Give the package a good variety of items, and personalize it with handmade pieces that your soldier will appreciate.
Crafts
Create something that your soldier might like. Take iron-on transfer photos of the soldier's family or loved ones and iron them onto a plain pillowcase or handkerchief. If the soldier is your girlfriend or boyfriend, put together a small scrapbook of the two of you together. This can also work for families. Or put together a love coupon book that the soldier can redeem once he gets home. If the soldier has kids, have them paint craft picture frames and then send the frames with pictures of the kids in them.
Food
Soldiers like to receive food from home, no matter what time of the year. Send plenty of Valentine's Day candy, like lollipops, red hots and conversation hearts. Try to stay away from most chocolate candies, as these may melt during shipment. Send red- or pink-dyed crispy rice treats, boxes of red gelatin mix and Valentine's Day cookies. Try your hand at making lollipops. Some craft stores offer fortune cookies that let you insert a personalized fortune.
Entertainment
Soldiers do have downtime, so send them items to help them pass the time. Make a CD mix of all of your soldier's favorite songs or songs that you two enjoy together. Find a couple of romantic movies or books that the soldier likes and include them in the package. Make up your own word search puzzle or crossword and include words that the soldier can associate with home and Valentine's Day. Begin writing in a journal for the soldier and include small notes throughout so as he's writing in it he sees the notes.
Other Items
Write out a handmade valentine or card to your soldier, and if you have kids, have them make one as well. Send personal items like a red robe, red bath towel and Valentine's-themed socks or boxers. Small toys like stuffed animals, action figures, playing cards and anything else that's inexpensive and silly can be sent. Avoid sending items that may be risque, like revealing pictures of yourself. You don't want to risk those pictures getting into the wrong hands.
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