I need suggestions for my Holiday Baskets for the Troops

[corarose]

I may be a little late but I am poor right now.

If my baskets don't make it for Christmas then they will get them for New Years.

A present is a present and they will not turn one down.

I have permission to bake whatever I need to bake or use the kitchen to put the baskets together.

Do they have areas to cook in? If I made them a jar with a mix for cocoa in it and a cookie mix that you just add water to could they use that or not?

[XanaDUer]

1. Scones?

Don't they last long?

What a nice thing you are doing, cora. :)

[corarose]

2. I don't have anyone to buy for and If I did they still would get coal

Because I am broke.

Thanks.

I have to buy the containers to put the stuff in and the ingredients which doesn't cost that much at the restaurant depot store.

Scones are real durable when it comes to heat also.

[XanaDUer]

5. It's still a kind thing to do....

I think the holidays are too commercial, anyway. Better to have handmade things.

[KittyWampus]

3. OOPS! Sorry

thought you meant things to buy.

Gingerbread cookies keep very well.

[corarose]

4. I don't have money for that and my Dad won't part with his comic books

He has the whole Beavis and Butthead Collection.

[KittyWampus]

6. Caramel Popcorn or Gingerbread cookies

Just don't roll the gingerbread out too thin.

Caramel Popcorn is really easy to make.

[Supormom]

7. Cocoa mix, kool-aid, lemon-aid...

Anything to help cover the horrible taste of the water. The troops also appreciate condiments such as ketchup and mustard packets, BBQ sauce, etc. If you ask at your local McDonalds, BK, Subway or other fast food restaurant they may give you a large quantity if you tell them it is for the troops. They're also looking for recent copies of magazines, especially sports-related. You probably know a few people who would be willing to donate their magazines after they've been read.

[FloridaJudy]

8. Some modest suggestions

1) Those water-free hand and face wipes (I can swipe them from work, so E-Mail me privately, and I'll send you on a hundred or so)

2) Snacks that keep well without refridgeration: nuts, jerky, sealed crackers, etc. You can probably buy a lot of them at Sam's or CostCo cheaply.

3) Books of humor: Dave Barry, Carl Hiaasen, Elmore Leonard and the like. Chances are you can find cheap used-paperbacks at your local independent bookstore. Also ask them if they have any "coverless" popular novels. These are books that have been overstocked, and have had their front covers sent back to the publishers as unsold. Book stores aren't allowed to sell them, but I can't think of any person who wouldn't love to donate the discards to a worthy cause. Obviously, you don't want to send some poor grunt the latest Danielle Steele or Judith Kranz, but there should be tons of Science Fiction or Sports books available.

I'm neither male nor military, but I can't imagine any guy who'd snear at a dozen Handi-Wipes, a few packages of peanut butter crackers and copy of *Dave Barry's Book of Guys*.

[HereSince1628]

9. Way agree on the handi-wipes

Decent toilet paper can be a real novelty.
Lip balm.

[corarose]

10. How many guys/gals are in the troops that we take care of?

:kick: