Thanks to Allison, I went to the terrific Oriental Trading Company web site, which has a dynamite selection of cheap novelty goods and toys at bulk prices. Check out what I was able to pick up:
$12.95 for 1 dozen colored-lens sunglasses
$3.95 for 2 dozen pastel bead bracelets
$9.95 for 6 dozen coloring books
$11.85 for 3 units of 2 dozen boxes of crayons (* Update * See below!)
$15.95 for Shipping
Total cost: $54.65
I could have gotten away with spending as little as $20 and still gotten some neat stuff. They have cars, flying toys, balls, stuffed animals, wooden games, puppets, kaleidoscopes, novelty jewelry (be careful with this, don't be sending stuff like toy lipstick and such), and more. In other words, tons of cheap, simple stuff that kids would love.
I was a little confused since I'd never shipped to an overseas military address before, but it turns out that anything you send to a military base just uses standard US mail. In this case, Wiggles' address is:
Chief Wiggles
CPA-C2, Debriefer
APO, AE 09335
The "city" is APO, and the "state" is AE. That'll get it there.
So what are you waiting for?
(Just remember, no guns, violent toys, or Barbie-type dolls. That's the Chief's rule.)
* Update * I was dismayed to find out that Crayons are not a good idea because it gets very very hot over there and crayons start to melt at around 105 degrees f. I called Oriental Trading Company to try to change my order only it was already shipped. Dang it. Hope it'll be okay. Anyway, anyone wanting to send coloring supplies should probably try to find colored pencils with sharpeners instead. I'd recommend magic markers except any parent knows those go dry way too quickly.
If you sign up for their email alerts, sometimes they send you codes for free shipping. Could come in handy, I think Chief Wiggles is going to be over there awhile.
Is there any way to just send him cash? I am too attached to my stuffed animals, puppets and novelty jewelry to give it up.
Also, does anyone know whether there's any way he could register as a charity so we could deduct our contributions? Or do any established charities do this same kind of thing?
I receive the Oriental Trading catalog, and while I have yet to order from it, think it's the coolest thing. When I saw it mentioned over on Chief Wiggles' I thought "yes!"
As crayons melt around 100 degrees (and as the Chief pointed out it is still getting up to 140 where he is) may I suggest a set of colored pencils - and some pencil sharpeners - with blank paper or coloring books?
Dean: Donate the crayons to your local domestic violence crisis center. They will be much appreciated by the children being sheltered there.
In return, I will send all of the leftover (suitable) toys from our recent garage-sale fundraiser to the Chief :-)
Plus maybe some new ones on my own hmmm?
I suspect the crayons will be ok. It's autumn and starting to cool down over there. I've also left crayons in a hot car a few times and I suspect the 105 degrees has some padding in it 'just to be safe'.
Dean,
The crayons will be just fine. The temperatures are dropping and winter's coming in. In any case, the northern part of Iraq isn't especially hot and has viciously cold winters. Send 'em along.
I'll be arriving in Baghdad in Nov. and will see what I can do to help the Chief.