LDS Missionary Care Package Ideas for every month of the year, plus birthdays and hump day!

This was originally posted on my other missionary blog "Missionary Momming with the Overzealous Missionary Mom" (which is a blog with ideas for moms & other relatives or friends of full-time LDS missionaries). Even though this blog is primarily about preparing for an LDS mission, I thought I'd share this information here as well, since it's a missionary-related topic and some of you might be interested in missionary care package ideas! If you'd like to see my other blog, you can find it here

This blog post features a collection of care package ideas for every month of the year (plus a few bonus ideas for birthdays and "hump day"). We have at least one idea for every month (plus birthdays and "hump day"), with links to the original source if you want more information. But first, lets talk about some of the practical matters re: sending care packages...

TIMING-
You'll want to take into consideration that it's going to take a while for your package to get to your missionary (especially if they are in a different country), so you will want to look into delivery estimate times and try to plan ahead. For example, if you are in the United States and your missionary is also in the United States, you can send a package through USPS using "Priority Mail" and it should arrive in 2 to 3 business days (there are other -cheaper- shipping methods, but they do take much longer). If you have a specific day that you need the package to arrive by (such as a birthday or Christmas), then I would plan ahead to have the package arrive at least several days early. It's better to be on the safe side, since there can be delays (especially around Christmas).

If you are shipping to a foreign country, it will take much longer for a package to arrive. The USPS website's "Postage Price Calculator" can give you an idea of the cost for a package and an estimate for how long it will take a package/letter to arrive (enter your zip code and the destination country). Again, this is an estimate, because the delivery time can vary a lot, especially in remote areas. So shipping early is key.

RESTRICTIONS-
If you are shipping to a foreign country, I recommend finding a message board or facebook group where parents with LDS missionaries in the same country as your missionary share tips because you will be able to find ideas and information about shipping to that particular country. When you ship anything to a foreign country, there can be a lot of restrictions about what can be sent (both because of policy and because of practicality). For example, a particular country might not allow certain types of food to be sent. Another county might allow food, but it isn't a good idea to send certain types of foods (like chocolate that can melt).

If you try to ship restricted or illegal items (like fireworks), they would be confiscated and could potentially cause problems for yourself and/or for your missionary, so be sure to get the facts about what is allowed and not allowed. The USPS has information about shipping to foreign countries, and they also have all of the customs forms that you will need to send packages overseas. The last time I sent a package to an overseas missionary was several years ago, but unless it has changed recently, you actually have to go to the post office to mail foreign packages (you can't usually just click & ship from home).

OTHER IMPORTANT SHIPPING ISSUES-
Other common issues related to sending packages to foreign countries include theft and additional costs to your missionary. Theft is a significant problem in some countries where customs agents will open and inspect your package, confiscate restricted items, and may decide to keep things that they want for themselves. Even if your missionary is serving in the United States and the package won't go through customs, packages can be stolen from doorsteps. So if you try to send anything of value such as money, a camera, or even shoes, they might never make it to your missionary. I've heard that in some countries, if you need to send shoes to your missionary, it's best to sent the shoes in seperate packages on different days (because one shoe is not very appealing to a theif). Of course, there is always the chance that one of the packages could be lost forever and you missionary might be walking around with only one shoe! :)

Please be aware that customs agents can and will open packages and inspect everything inside. So if you have wrapped items (like a twelve-days-of-Christmas gifts kind of thing), they may open all of the gifts to see what they are.

COSTS-
It costs a lot of money to send a package anywhere, even within the same country. The farther away, the higher the cost. Also, a heavier package costs more (an exception to this is if you are able to do a flat-rate box through USPS, which allows you to pay the same price no matter how heavy the box is, but there are restrictions and you must use a specific box (that you can get for free from USPS).  So you definitely need to factor the cost of shipping plus the cost of the items inside to determine the actual total cost of sending a care package to your missionary.

What many people don't realize is that additional costs to the missionaries can happen when they are required to pay customs fees when picking up a package in their country. Depending on the contents of the package, they may be required to pay high fees (basically custom taxes), and that money comes out of the missionary's support fund (food allowance). Imagine if they had to pay $100 to pick up a package that cost you $50 to send them? That would be devastating to their budget.

For all of these reasons, you will definately want to learn everything you can about what is allowed (or will result in fees) and what you shouldn't send to your missionaries particular country.

Alright, now that I've totally stressed you out, lets get on to the care package ideas! You may need to adapt to your situation and you definately don't need to send a package every single month (especially if your missioary is in a foreign counrty where the cost is much higher).

Here is at least one idea for each month of the year, followed by a few extra ideas:

JANUARY- "NEW YEAR, NEW START" CARE PACKAGE

LINK TO MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS IDEA HERE

This is a cute idea for a low-cost care package containing practical items like toothpaste, mints, etc.

FEBRUARY- "VALENTINES DAY CARE PACKAGE"

LINK TO MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS IDEA HERE 

Check dollar stores for inexpensive holiday-related items and decorations

MARCH- "ST PATRICK'S DAY CARE PACKAGE"

LINK TO MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS IDEA HERE 

Green-themed care package for St Patricks Day - basically, just anything that is green (note- I'd be careful about putting soap like the IRish Spring shown in a box with food. Even though it is wrapped, it is strong smelling and -trust me - all of the food items like gum and mints will taste like soap. I know this because this has happened in my 72-hour kit. If you really want to include the soap, I would double-wrap the whole package of soap it in thick zip-lock bags like freezer bags).

APRIL- ''EASTER CARE PACKAGE"

LINK TO MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS IDEA HERE

LINK TO MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS IDEA HERE 

Several ideas for Easter. You could include any Easter-ish items, but its nice to have a gospel theme if you can, as in the 2nd Easter care package shown above. 

MAY- "MAY THE FOURTH BE WITH YOU CARE PACKAGE"

LINK TO MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS IDEA HERE

This is a May-themed care package with the popular May 4th "MAY the Fourth be with you" Star Wars theme. Here, they include snacks with the labels changed to make them Star Wars related.

JUNE- "BOX OF SUNSHINE CARE PACKAGE"

LINK TO MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS IDEA HERE

This sunshine-themed care package would be good for anytime in the summer, but it could also be sent in the winter as a sort of cheer-up. PS- Some countries have the opposite seasons than in the United States, so if your missionary is serving in Australia, for example, it might be winter there when it is summer here.

JULY- "4TH OF JULY CARE PACKAGE"

LINK FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS IDEA HERE

I'm pretty sure that fireworks are illegal to send anywhere, even within the United States, so this care package is fireowrk themed, but shouldnt contain any actual fireworks - it's just firework themed. Fun items like pop-rocks candy would be a good idea. Be sure to check whether it is appropriate to send nation-related items like American flags, etc., before you send, in case they might be prohibited.

AUGUST- "BEAT THE HEAT CARE PACKAGE"

LINK TO MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS IDEA HERE

"Cool" or "ice" themed items

SEPTEMBER- "FALL CARE PACKAGE"

LINK TO MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS IDEA HERE

Fall themed items like nuts and other snacks with fall-themed flavors

OCTOBER- "HALLOWEEN CARE PACKAGE"

LINK TO MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS IDEA HERE

NOVEMBER- "THANKSGIVING CARE PACKAGE"

LINK TO MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS IDEA HERE

This is a really cute idea for a thanksgiving dinner in a box. Is your missionary in the United States and probably going to eat Thanksgiving dinner with a family in their area? Don't worry - they will still want this food! You can't have too much Thanksgiving!

DECEMBER "CHRISTMAS CARE PACKAGE"

Here are 3 different ideas for things to send to your missionary for Christmas. A common theme for a lot of Christmas care packages are things that can be enjoyed over time - either small gift or envelopes that are opened over time (days or weeks). Don't feel like you need to send regular Christmas presents (like you would normally give them back home). In fact, it's better not to. They don't have room for extra items in their luggage, so unless they specifically tell you that they need new shoes or a new dress, I would recommend sticking to small practical & consumable stuff like post-it notes, chapstick, socks, ties, snacks, makeup, etc.

Here is a garland with envelopes that are opened like an advent calendar:

LINK TO MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS IDEA HERE 

Here is a paper Christmas tree and "ornaments" featuring photos of family and friends back home. This is a great idea because it can be put up weeks before Christmas and kept up on display for a while after Christmas, so it has a lasting impact (while also being low cost). The missionary can eventually throw away the paper tree, but keep the photos with him in the next transfer.

LINK TO MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS IDEA HERE 

Stocking filled with inexpensive gifts like candy, etc (for most people, a stocking would be in additional to the main gifts, but for a missionary this is a very appropriate gift by itself)

LINK TO MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS IDEA HERE

Please try to remember your missionary's companion when sending a care package, but ESPECIALLY at Christmas. It doesn't need to be something major, anything small will be appreciated. Some missionaries don't get much mail or any packages from home. Some missionaries don't get any sort of support from home, so it can be really meaningful to get something from someone who cares - even if they don't know you.

HUMP DAY CARE PACKAGE:

"Hump Day" is the halfway mark for Missionaries - for Elders that is the 1-year mark (halfway through their 2 year mission) and for Sisters that is their 9-year mark (halfway through their 18 month mission). It's just kind of a fun thing to recognize that they are halfway through. Here are some fun "hump day" care package ideas:

LINK TO MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS IDEA HERE 

LINK TO MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS IDEA HERE 

BIRTHDAY CARE PACKAGES: 

LINK TO MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS IDEA HERE 

LINK TO MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS IDEA HERE

HAVE FUN PUTTING TOGETHER YOUR CARE PACKAGES! YOUR MISSIONARY WILL LOVE THEM!