CARE PACKAGES

Donation suggestions...individual drink mixes....baby wipes...chapsticks...popcorn....beef jerky....Slim Jims...notes of support...

If you’d like to contribute to our care packages for abroad or our comfort item deliveries for the patients and families at the local military hospitals, below is a list of suggestions: (Items in red are particular favorites)

Please keep in mind that many of the soldiers are out "in the field" and are only able to have what they can carry.  It is also hard NOT to give away your presence if you are wearing scented products!  We are requesting items in small sizes and/or individually wrapped to keep out sand, water, insects, etc.  Hotel samples will be accepted but usually not sent abroad because they are scented and do not always list their ingredients on the sample.

WE DO NOT ACCEPT SILLY STRING!! Although there has been much media attention about the use of Silly String to detect explosives/booby traps, we can not ship aerosol cans.

Please click on the following link to find the nearest location to drop of your donations: Partner Collection Sites

SNACKS/FOOD TREATS:

• Hard Candy - individually wrapped, or Licorice (individually wrapped strings)

• Microwave popcorn packets

• Dried fruit, Nuts (packaged or small cans)

• Beef Jerky, Slim Jims, or Beef Sausage (must be individually wrapped or packaged -absolutely NO PORK PRODUCTS).

• M&M Candies (year-round, these survive the summer heat)

• Chocolate candies  (only Oct. through Feb. 15th)

• Kool-Aide, Crystal Light, True Lemon/Lime, any brand of Iced Tea Mix.  Please note: Many of these products come in tubs even though they are inside boxes.  Please look at the directions on the box. We are requesting INDIVIDUAL PACKETS that "can be poured directly into a water bottle or a glass".

• Hot Cocoa, Coffee, Tea (indiv. servings/packets preferred) but no jars at any rate.

• Cookies - Store bought - in sturdy boxes only please

   I GIFTS/MISC. IDEAS:

• T-Shirts with logos from Sports Teams, Bars, Motor Cycles/Shops, etc.

• Model Kits - Planes, ships, cars, military vehicles, etc. (+model glue)

• Hickory Farms (or like type) Cheese/BEEF Sausages (no jars please - cheese must be type that needs NO refrigeration)

• DVD's, CD's - Latest releases preferred but ALL accepted

• Footballs, Soccer Balls, Baseballs/Softballs/Gloves/Bats

• CD players (used is fine if in working condition

• Board Games (new only please - Monopoly, Risk, etc.)

• X-box or Play Station II games new or used

• Decks of playing cards

• Small crossword puzzle books/magazines, Sudoku, etc.  or pocket-size books/magazines (found at grocery store check-outs)

• Small, hand-held games/toys (can be battery operated), Rubix, mazes, sliders, etc.

• Batteries - AAA, AA most popular - must be in small packages

• Writing pads/envelopes, blank note cards

• Box of All Occasion Cards (to send home to family, etc.)

• Holiday decorations - all holidays - must be received no later than one month in advance

• Paperback books-new only (overstock on used books and would like to ship new only)

• *Magazines - new only during the holidays. Sports related or men's or women's hobbies; People, Ladies Home Journal, etc. are good choices.

• International phone cards (AT&T or through AAFES preferred)

      PERSONAL HYGIENE ITEMS: Prefer travel or purse-size (in tubes/plastic bottles)

• Antibacterial Face Wash/Scrub

• Razors & refill blades

• Foot powder, body powder - (ex. Gold Bond, Johnson's)

• Antibacterial cleansing cream/lotion/gel

• Hand/body wipes (baby wipes) in travel size packets please

• Chap Sticks, lip balms, salves

• Hand lotion (small squeeze tubes or bottles)

• Toothpaste, dental floss, tooth brushes

• Q-tips (small pkgs. please)

• Emory boards, nail files, nail clippers

• Shave gels (no aerosol cans for shipping - only for local hospital patients)

• Stick deodorant

• Air fresheners or scented candle (no plug-ins)

• Combs, hair brushes for females only

• For females: hair pins, clips, bands (must match hair colors)

*Any showing political messages or any pictures/materials rated worse than R or showing skin usually covered with under-clothing, will not be sent abroad due to foreign country customs regulations and the U.S. Dept. of Defense guidelines.  Random packages are inspected upon arrival in other countries.

Thank you for visiting Operation Pinecone's website, please remember...

A little donation can go a long way!

If you are interested in contributing, volunteer opportunities, or more information, you may contact us at:  admin@operationpinecone.org or 703-327-6628. 

A financial statement is available upon written request from the Office of Consumer Affairs, Commonwealth of Virginia.

Operation Pinecone

43377 Hyland Hills St.

South Riding, VA 20152

Thank you on behalf of our all-volunteer team

Mary Hacker, Founder/President