Deals.Woot

Gift baskets you built yourself, or just gift baskets like from 1800flowers?

We donate a lot of Girl Scout cookies to deployed soldiers. If you're making your own that would probably be a good thing to add for both baskets.

Where are you sending this?

I don't think you can send a commercial gift basket to any soldiers that are deployed as they have an APO address. And there is actually a list you need to get from the military of things you can't send if they are in the middle east, I know that no pork and alcohol products are on that list. And I was told by my friends who have been deployed that chocolate melts before it gets to them so they prefer no chocolate, they can get it on base anyway. I have found it is easier to just make your own care package to send.

They appreciate koolaid packs - the one bottle type, I believe they drink a lot of bottled water.
Tissue
Hard Candy
Handiwipes
Long Distance Phone calling cards
iTunes Cards
The list goes on we just sent a package to Iraq.

Actually, you can send gift baskets (ok, boxes) to soldiers overseas. Do a quick google search for "Free Shipping to APO". There are a lot of companies that not only ship to soldiers, they often offer Free Shipping, Discounts or Extra Gifts.

Where the soldier is located can really affect what they want/need. Some have a access to more resources and just want love from home. The soldiers in the more remote areas (FOB's) often want very basic items. Sadly this sometimes even includes items like toiletries, healthy snacks, chapstick & sunblock.

Letters & cards from home are huge, the stuff is an extra bonus. You might watch the popular deals on Woot. Rubber band guns, nerf footballs, etc. are a fun treat. So are technical fiber undershirts, good socks (check on color...brown or black usually), quick dry underwear/bras, camelbacks, multitools.

http://www.anysoldier.com/ is a great resource for how & what to send. You can adopt a soldier there as well.

@sand4me: I agree. It's so great for the soldiers to get personal packages (especially those without family). It also helps that they talk about their experience and request what they need.

Two years ago my daughter (then 7) gave people the option of donating boxes of Girl Scout cookies (great if you're on a diet). She wrote a letter & decorated/colored/drew pictures on them to be included with each box. We shipped over 200 boxes overseas. We received the neatest email responses, they loved them!

I should also note that we also send bags of little toys (McDonald's, Oriental Trading type), candy, fancy pencils & stickers. They are great for the soldiers to be able to give to the kids that they encounter.

As an aside: I've sent my son all the items typically suggested. He appreciates it all and he told me to send anything--what he can't use he gives away. He did say to stop sending those instant add-to-water gatorade packets; apparently gatorade sends them by the caseful?

But his favorite items came as a total shock to me. It wasn't the 'useful' stuff he raved about; my grown-up soldier's favorite items were the toys!

When he was about 5, the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle cartoon was his favorite show. While at the dollar store, I saw these tiny retro TMNT figures, not more than 1.5" tall, and bought them on a whim. I almost didn't toss them into the box because it was silly, but I'm glad I did. He and each of the others in the four-man team he rolls with 'adopted' one and he says they sit on the dash of their vehicle. The four of them are apparently now known by their TMNT persona. My son's new nickname is Michaelangelo.

Okay, he liked the jerky too. :)