When my younger sister Eunice joined the ROTC program in college after the 9/11 attacks, everyone reacted with surprise — including our parents. The events of that time filled us all with worry about the future, but Eunice followed her convictions. She never asked permission; she let her heart lead. Born with a servant’s heart, she found a clear sense of purpose in the U.S. Army, where her compassion, leadership, and loyalty could serve a greater cause. Her determination to defend our freedoms is a central reason she chose a military career.
Though my parents were understandably concerned for her safety, they were also proud — especially my father, who displayed her military photos throughout the house and his office. During her second deployment to Iraq she was promoted to brigade commander — lovingly nicknamed Commander Captain Auntie Eunice by our family.
To her nieces and nephews, Eunice is an aunt first. When she calls home, she often skips combat updates and instead checks in with each child, wanting to hear about their lives. She shares stories of compassion between troops and civilians that rarely make headlines, but she also speaks honestly about homesickness and the emotional toll of deployment. Her perspective balances the camaraderie and hardships that come with military service.
On her first deployment, two of my sisters coordinated a large Christmas care package for Eunice and her unit. With support from friends, family, churches, and local businesses, we sent fifty large moving boxes to Iraq. Eunice told us how much the troops appreciated those gifts — for many it was their only sign that someone back home cared.
The last time Eunice was home was last Christmas. She spent her leave focused on family: visiting friends, gathering with relatives, and spoiling her nieces and nephews. Listening to her stories over the years has convinced me that choosing the military often means sacrificing a great deal in service to something larger than oneself.
Distance truly makes the heart grow fonder. Eunice and many other service members say the hardest part of deployment is being away from home.
With Easter approaching, my children and I decided to send Eunice a box of home comforts. Inside we included letters from the kids, notes from my mother and sister, and a message from my husband and me. We packed gum, roasted nuts, beef jerky, a pop-culture magazine, homemade chocolate chip cookies stored in sturdy containers, and plastic eggs filled with personalized notes. I hope these familiar treats and messages will lift her spirits as she prepares for her third deployment.
It’s surprising how much morale a box of simple things can boost. If you have a friend or family member serving overseas — or simply want to help — consider sending a spring care package. The troops appreciate these gestures more than you can imagine. Remember: what you add makes it.
USPS Priority Mail flat rate boxes are free and make a perfect canvas for personal messages or artwork. Decorating the box adds a meaningful touch that shows the recipient they’re remembered.
Homemade treats have a special way of transporting someone back home. Eunice admits she thinks about my chocolate chip cookies and always looks forward to them when she comes back on leave.
When I ship cookies now, I’m experimenting with stacking them inside disposable pint containers to keep them fresh and intact during transit.
Here’s a simple idea: buy plastic colored eggs and fill each with a short, personal message. Notes can be encouragements, poems, favorite quotes, jokes, drawings, or memories — anything that conveys love and support.
The goal is to remind the recipient of home and to give them a small boost of encouragement.
Invite different family members to write messages for the eggs, or collect emails from friends and print them to include.
Roll each note so it fits neatly inside the eggs.
Place the personalized messages inside each egg.
Tips for building a care package for deployed troops:
- Box: Use USPS Priority Mail flat rate boxes. They’re cost-effective because the price is the same regardless of weight. Decorate the box with drawings or handwritten notes to give it a personal touch — small gestures can mean a lot.
- Contents: Troops appreciate a variety of items. Homemade treats are treasured, but durable store-bought snacks such as roasted nuts, protein bars, candy (avoid easily melting chocolate unless it’s candy-coated), beef jerky, and gum are also popular. Include magazines, books, letters, photos, chapstick, and sanitized baby wipes to make daily life a bit more comfortable.
I’d love to hear your suggestions for care package items in the comments — I’m always looking for new ideas. Thank you!
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