'Any Soldier' Mail and Packages

Our church, Lutheran Church of the Living Christ, is collecting items to send to 'any soldier' in Nate's battalion. You can drop off items there.

If you can't drop off, but want to participate by mailing your own letter, post card, or package, please read these tips for sending mail to Balad Airbase in Iraq (or service members overseas in general). Mail cannot be addressed to 'Any Soldier', but must be addressed to an individual by name or title. Nate is responsible for distributing 'Any Soldier' mail in his battalion, so address the mail to

Gies, Nathaniel
Attn: Any Soldier
51st ESB, HHC
APO, AE 09391

There are females in his unit, so if you are sending items intended specifically for a female, send it 'Attn: Any Female Soldier'.

Nate passed along requests for the following especially desired items:

Suggested “Any Soldier” items:

Toiletries such as:

• Toothbrushes
• toothpaste
• floss
• soap
• shampoo and conditioner
• unscented deodorant/antiperspirant

Food items:

• Canned nuts
• trail mix
• sunflower seeds
• microwave popcorn
• instant oatmeal (plain and flavored; single serv. packets)
• chewing gum (esp. big red)
• gatorade/tang/crystal lite/propell powdered drink packets
• other instant drinks: apple cider, hot cocoa, coffee (both ground and instant), tea (esp. green tea) (single serve packets)

Magazines:

• cars
• computers
• beauty/fashion
• outdoors
• cooking
• music
• gardening
• sports
• popular science
• etc.

Other items:

• nerf balls
• darts sets
• baseball gloves
• movies (DVD)
• greeting cards (to send home to loved ones for birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, other special occasions)
• stationary/writing tablets and envelopes

A card or note would also be great.

Thanks for your help!