I am so glad I found this post! My husband and I just moved from Georgia near FT Stewart where the 3rd ID is based. A bunch of friends are now back in Iraq for the 3rd time and I have been wondering if NFSC and chocolate chip cookies would make it there and still taste good. The information on flat rate boxes is helpful too. I am going to e-mail my military wife friends tonight and get addresses.

Thank you for posting the links to anysoldier.com. I already got a couple of addresses and I am going to go shopping tomorrow for some of the items on their lists. I've been thinking I wanted to find a site like this so I was excited to see it!

i am thrilled my question has started such a wonderful response!

Donna

I'm sure your cookies will taste sooo good to them no matter when they get them! God Bless your son and his fellow soldiers and their families. May they all come home safe and sound.

I am a member of another cake board that supports the troops with goodies. I have sent a few care packages with goodies and also sundries and such. And it is so rewarding to know that my small effort could bring a little joy to these people who are sacrificing and serving our country.

https://thor.aafes.com/scs/default.aspx

one more link some of you may be interested in, in case you don't want to send them baked goods....this is a web site to buy prepaid calling cards and can send to any soldier so they can call home

let me say again how touched i was by everyone's response....you make coping with the situation a litte bit easier!!!! Thanks! Donna

Not sure what to tell you about the cookies. But wanted to say thank you to your son & your family for your sacrifice. I pray for our troups every night and will be sure to include your son. My brother in law is military & almost all my male cousins so I know how hard it can be. Warm wishes for a safe tour and return home soon. God Bless you & yours

My brother will be deployed to Iraq for 12-18 months in May. The last time he was there, he said that everytime they got food in the mail, they would open it and share with everyone. So when I send care packages, I send lots. What other things besides cookies would be easy to send without going bad. Brownies, fudge (although worried about the melting...) anything else? My prayers go out to all the service people out there. Thank you!!

My brother is in Iraq now. I was fixing to send him a care package, but never thought about putting homemade cookies in it. It never occured to me that they would be good when they got there, so I'm glad I found this thread. I'll have to make a batch to put in the box for him.

Ditto...that this is a great thread, and "Thanks" to all of our men & women that are fighting for our freedom....AND to the families left here to hold down the fort while their loved ones are away (they're all HEROS).

My daughter is in the Army Reserve while she is in college and has been told to expect orders to Iraq or Afghanistan anytime. She said she thinks the thing she'll miss the most are my cakes. Oh...this is going to be so hard...she's only 19 years old...

I didn't know it took so long to get stuff to them. I guess I'll have to invest in one of the food savers too!!

For all of you who have served....thank you! For all of you who have husbands, brothers, sisters, daughters, sons, moms and dads serving...thank you too!

MissyTex....thanks for you kind words...thats great that your other group has been supporting our troops

heavenscent....thanks for your kind words and your prayers....with all the military members you have in your family you certainly do know what its like....thanks for the service of your family!!

tjgett..thank your brother for his service to our country...and you're right they all share.....which is why i sent 50 goodie bags!!!

jamhays...thank your brother also....i made the nfsc because i thought they had the best chance of making it in one piece....and whenever my son does get them i'll find out how they tasted.....i put them in those goodie bags you can buy at michaels/walmart (i think wilton actually makes them)...and like i said tied them tight..so i bet this would work for your brother too

jeking...i pray your daughter does not have to go....but if she does and you need someone to talk/cry with just pm me...

hope i didn't leave anyone out....i'm sorry if i have, i feel like if you've taken the time to respond i should acknowledge it....

you are all wonderful people!! Donna

In case you've never had an MRE the cookies will taste far better than what they normally have even if they are pretty stale.

On www.kitchengifts.com I saw a Marine cookie cutter, you'd have to fill in the detail but I'm sure your son would love something like that. I was looking at it because my FIL was a Marine in Vietnam and would go nuts over it. I can't quite understand why but then I'm an Army brat.

I'm not sure how your candy will last, it is the desert and chocolate melts pretty easy.

Good Luck to your son.

mbelgard...i have had mre's ......my husband is a retired Marine....thought i had seen the last of those......and then my son became a Marine! you're right compared to those anything is good!!

i've seen that USMC cookie cutter.......it looked too hard for me....since i'm a rookie at cookies.....and ideas on how to make it any easier to do the detail???

No ideas, I haven't bought it yet, I'm just looking at it because of my FIL. That and he has my boys going about how Marines are real men because it annoys my dad so it would be fun for that.

I had good luck sending biscotti to a nephew while he was stationed in Iraq - figured that they would keep well since most of the moisture is removed in the second baking.

Donna,

I send items frequently to my step-daughter. I always use my "Foodsaver". She says they do not look the best, but they taste fresh. If you don't have one, I would consider it. It is the BEST invention EVER!

It really is a great idea to send cookies to our troops, however I was reading on the anysodier site, and it specifically says not to send homemade food goods. Apparently they are instructed to throw out anything that is not factory sealed, unless it is from family.

I hate to be a downer, but I thought it was a good FYI

Hi, first let me say thank you to your son for his courageous service. I have a small non-profit group that provides friendship and support to military personnel deployed overseas. If you would like recipes or packaging ideas, please PM me. I'll be glad to answer any questions.

i just sent you a pm....i just saw your post this morning...its wonderfull what you do!!

i just wanted to tell everyone that my son still hasn't received his valenting package.....didn't want you to think i've forgotten.......this will certainly be the ultimate test for the no fail sugar cookies!!!

will keep you up to date
Donna

i tried to post this earlier this morning....but i think i have gremlins in my comp...so hope it doesn't show up twice

just wanted to update and tell everyone he still has not received his valentine package ...and it might be a while before he does....so i just have to look at this as the true utimate test for the nfsc...

Donna

ok....final update

THE COOKIES HAVE ARRIVED!

he got them yesterday

he said his Marines liked them....so i guess they weren't too stale

unforuntately the lollipops (made with wilton chocolate) melted.....they must have looked awful.....but i bet they ate them anyway!!!!

thanks again to all who posted!!

Donna

just wanted to tell everyone thank you for the prayers you said for my son....he will be home in a couple of days, all safe and sound....right now i'm in the process of hanging up yellow ribbons and bows!!!....

i appreciate everyone's help with the cookies too....

now that i know they are good even after months......i think i'll make him such fresh ones!!

Donna

I just wanted to say bless you and your son, and all of our soilders fighting in the war today. Prayers out to all of you!

--Dawn

thank you Dawn....i appreciate your kind words

Donna

I know this is an older thread but can you please tell your son that you and semperfi for me and my DH. We are both former marines so the military is always near and dear to our hearts.

I will do that today!! you can appreciate how glad i am to have him home ...thanks for thinking of us! Donna