I received this note from a reader and thought we could put our heads together to help her think of something wonderful!
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“I’m currently living in Germany where I’m stationed with my husband who is deployed with the 527th MP CO. They’re returning this summer after a long 15 months away. My 3 year old and I can hardly wait to have “daddy” back home. I’m working on a “Welcome Home’ gift for all 44 soldiers. Many of who are single and will return to their dorm rooms. If you could help me in coming up with an EASY and CHEAP idea to give to the soldiers I’d greatly appreciate it. Remember I’m in Germany and I don’t access to many materials like I would if we were in the states. If you’re able to help me out in any way I’d be VERY thankful!!”
“I think the number one thing they’ve missed is comfort! But my husband is looking forward to going to the fridge to grab whatever he wants. They’ve been limited to food since the area they are deployed is without a Shopette or PX. So all the snacks he has had I’ve sent in care packages.
We actually are getting the keys to the single soldiers barracks so we can go decorate the hallways and clean their rooms. I was hoping to come up with something that we could make ahead of time since we’re not sure when they will be getting back. I just need HELP and FAST!! “
I’m a military wife, just recently finished our 3 year tour in Germany. Before I respond with any ideas, I’d like to comment on the idea listed above of giving them beer. I think alcohol is not a wise gift and is too often supported and promoted by the military. I know Germany is a beer drinker’s dream, but men and women returning from a deployment shouldn’t be encouraged to turn to it. A sister unit to the one my husband is currently in just had a suicide and I know suicide rates are up significantly in the military. Please don’t provide beer, especially when you cannot know the mental state of the individuals receiving it or those who may be trying to resist that route. Not a wise idea in my opinion at all.
With that said, I think if you’re looking for cheap, baked goods would be the best. Cookies, banana bread, muffins, pies, etc. Most of the PX/BX’s over there sell the cheap, solid colored gift bags. You could decorate those a bit and fill with some baked items, maybe some fruit, apples, oranges, etc. Perhaps some some of those small bags of coffee could be included, ritter sport bars, etc. Not sure what the dorm rooms are like. Some dorms have 1-4 rooms sharing a kitchen, some more, some don’t have kitchens, etc. If there are shared kitchens, you could put food in there, baked goods, sodas in the fridge, fruit, milk, cereal, etc.
I also think trying to get people to write thank you notes is a great idea, very encouraging. Maybe post an APO address and have folks from the states send notes as well. You can stick some in the bags or put in their rooms.
If there is a base theater, talk to the manager and see if they would donate free tickets for the returning troops. Do the same for the bowling alley on post. Most bases/posts I know of have a theater and bowling alley. If they refuse, write to the local base paper and shame them. 🙂 I smile at that, but I’m serious. Also see if any of the base food establisments will give anything or coupons to put in the bags. Usually there are some places, Burger King, Cinnabon, Anthony’s Pizza, Popeyes?
Just some thoughts. ~Kelly~
I Love the Phrase “Land of the Free Because of the Brave”
Ok well I didn’t read the replies above, but you could something like: Figure out what types of food/candy/snack/drink type of thing and you can put them in a small basket for each guy. You can even have baked goods. (you can even have people donate baked goods. You can even go to businesses and ask for donations.
If you have the space in your back yard, you can get people to donate food and you can have a HUGE BBQ for the guys.
I just think it’s awesome you want to do something for all 44 guys! Good luck and keep us updated with what you do!
I agree with Kim, Beer would be the most appreciated…
Both of my parents are retired Marines, and being a Marine Brat, my dad would always hit up the snacks when he got home, but he’s not exactly into sweets.
My dad LOVED Cashews, and chocolate covered peanuts!
I say grab a few tubs of Cashews (if you can find them…) or some German chocolate covered peanuts, yum.
My mom always loved receiving soft cuddly blankets when she got home, she said that the soft washed away the harshness of sleeping in a hole away from home.
Cheese cake was also a major hit with my folks, I used to make it for them when I had the chance. They also loved puzzles, something to keep their mind off combat and that lot, find some magic trick toys and little play things. No matter how old, a puzzle is always appreciated.
Ask a local bake shop to get involved in welcoming these soldiers back by donating baked goods to have waiting by their bunks! I’m sure they would love to help! Just a phone call may do it!
When my son returned from Afghanistan he too wanted long showers. He also wanted quiet family time. For Christmas, while he was gone, I had family members and friends write notes to him and include pictures in a small journal. He said it made him a little sad at first but after that he was so glad to have it. Maybe you could get some people to write short notes of gratitude or children to draw pictures on some of the pages.
I’m for the cookie idea because you can make a ton of them fast if you make cake mix cookies. I used to make 7 dozen a week for the red cross with twin 3 yr olds, no sweat! Here’s the recipe
* 1 package cake mix, any flavor
* 2 eggs
* 1/3 cup oil
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Remove 3 tablespoons from the cake mix and set aside.
Add eggs and oil to cake mix and combine until smooth. If mix is too wet, add more dry mix. Drop in one inch balls on ungreased cookie sheet or baking pan.
Bake for approximately 7 minutes or until slightly browned, being careful not to overcook.
I tried making chocolate chip cookies in Germany and could never get just the right ingredients. Not sure why. But it’d be easy to find these ingredients I think. You acn look up online for variants to the recipe. We love the pecan sandies made with a butter pecan mix and we liked sunshine lemon cookies, made with a lemon cake mix. Good luck!!
Scouts! Enlist the help of scouts in your area: boys or girls. I am quite sure they have ample opportunities for community service, but what a fun project for them. If you have kids who want to help (like your 3 yr old) having a troop set up to help make homemade cards would be fun (take photos of them making the cares, too, so the soldiers see, also, the love that went i to the cards).
Cookies and plates sound like great projects for scouts, too.
So, I don’t have great, unique ideas for the PRODUCTS (sounds like there are several others that sound great, including that events calendar idea!), but having the resources to help accomplish your goals is also helpful, I hope.
I have a Girl Scout troop and we’d love to help, if you’d like. And I know a number of troops are looking for community projects to wrap up their scout year. If you’d like some cards or have other ideas for a small Girl Scout troop to help with (we have 6 girls aged 11 and 12 in my troop), let me know: aprilallyear2001@yahoo.com
Good luck!
Please accept my sincerest thanks for you and your husband, you have both been working hard the last 15 months! His service to our country is so needed, now more than ever, and is appreciated! Your service to him is needed, now more than ever and is appreciated!!
Definitely do the home baked goodies. And how about some travel sized shampoo, deodorant, etc. If there are any women in his company, put some fresh flowers in their rooms. I am guessing they haven’t seen a walmart in a while and might need a few things to get them through until the first shopping trip. Have your kids, other kids, and all the grown ups you know make some handmade, handwritten thank you cards. Often times the base chapel or the club is willing to host a big family style dinner, something manly with all the trimmings. (steak, potatoes…) A schedule of upcoming events on base and fun things around the area, they probably haven’t had fun in a while either!
Thank you both, again. And way to go on the thoughtfulness of this project, good luck!
I love all the cookie ideas! Maybe you could make each of them a special plate to go along with the cookies. I have seen really cute glass plates where people take fabric and decoupage it onto the backside with the fabric facing up. (So it shows through the plate.) You could also make something up on the computer with their unit number, deployment dates, where they were, etc. and put that on the bottom center part of the plate before you put the fabric on. It would make a nice keepsake for them especially if you could find some red, white and blue patriotic fabric to use!
If I were doing this many cookies or treats I would have to ask others to help! Maybe you could see if your local grade school or church wants to get in on the action. Have the kids bring a dozen cookies each It would also be cute to have the kids make welcome home hero cards for each of them!
Here is a link to how to do the plate idea.
http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/gl_other/article/0,,diy_13839_2270153,00.html
God bless you for doing this and God bless the men and women who protect our country!
Jamin
Hi!! I’m an Army wife and we wanted to do the same thing when the soldiers were coming home from deployment. We got all the kids together from the families and made signs to hang up with the soldiers’ names on them. Plus we made up hygiene kits for them. The first thing my hubby wanted to do was take a shower. There was about 5 of us that went in together to buy the supplies.
I know that whatever you come up with the soldiers will greatly appreciate!!!!
Congrats on having your hubby come home and please tell him Thank You for his service!!!!
Cupcakes, biscuits and anything sweet and homemade. I take homemade biscuits into work that are so simple to make but they make a huge impact especially with the recent graduates who’re away from their friends and families.
Along the food line, you could dip mini pretzels in chocolate. If you find a picture of the whole company, you could have that printed for each of them.
I know it’s small, but how about something like a homebaked plate of goodies waiting on their bed? Chocolate chip cookies and brownies would be pretty safe and they would probably appreciate the homemade goodness more than anything. It would only take a couple batches to cover all the guys, you could even freeze the dough in little balls so it’d be ready to bake with 15 minutes notice.
Other than food, I have no ideas what guys like :S
As a former military member, and current military spouse, Beer would be my first idea, but since you are thinking more along the lines of wholesome good for you stuff, I’d say cookies! Lots of cookies! Good luck, and please let your husband know he is appreciated and that we are glad he is on his way home!