Sometimes, the simplest things make the most difference. Consider a US soldier, stationed thousands of miles away from home. Even the bare necessities, such as food and clothing, would be welcomed.

Check out this handy list for some of the most useful—and appreciated—items you can send to a soldier.

Clothing:

• knit hats
• scarves
• bandannas
• gloves
• colored socks

Small Toys (for soldiers to give to children while deployed overseas):

• Small plush toys

Food and Drinks:

• drink mixes
• instant coffee and tea bags
• energy bars and granola bars
• peanut butter and jelly
• crackers
• cookies
• gum
• trail mix and dried fruit

Toiletries:

• lip balm and sunblock
• roll-on deodorant
• toothbrushes and toothpaste
• floss and mouthwash
• individually packaged razors and shaving cream
• moist towelettes
• foot powder
• shampoo and body wash
• hand sanitizer
• cotton swabs
• muscle relief cream

Entertainment:

• travel-sized board games
• cards
• CDs
• DVDs
• books
• magazines
• crossword puzzles

When you decide what to put in your care package, Operation Gratitude will make sure it gets to the troops. For more information on sending care packages to soldiers, including the preferred sizes of the items on their wish list, visit the Operation Gratitude website.