Spending Christmas apart is tough. Period. This is why a holiday care package is a must. There is nothing like spreading holiday cheer to your service member in a perfectly curated box just for them. Care packages are a lifeline, bringing comfort and reminders of home. Creating a care package goes beyond just putting things in a box. It is time, presence, tradition, support, and, of course, love that go into all the steps to make it all happen.
Related: Our huge list of year-round military freebies, discounts, and deals
If you’re a seasoned military spouse, you probably already know the ins and outs of sending a holiday care package—but just in case, keep reading! And if you’re new to military life, get ready to have fun creating these packages. Many of us have cherished the process of putting them together, and it’s a special way to send love, cheer, and a little piece of home to your service member.
Some things to keep in mind before you start:
- Mailing deadlines and planning ahead matter. If your service member is on a ship or submarine, this might be a whole different ballgame. Keep track of dates and shipping deadlines if sending packages overseas or to APO addresses.
- Avoid sending items that might melt, restricted items, liquids, and perishables. Of course, this varies depending on the type of deployment and where the care package is going.
- Keep your package padded and secured. Use packing paper, seal items properly, and weather-proof the goods.
As you start planning for your holiday care package, think of all the cozy items your service member is probably missing. The items that remind them of home. From slippers to cozy blankets. From holiday-scented air fresheners (think pine and cinnamon) to twinkling, battery-operated lights they can hang on their rack.
You can send them holiday cards (get the whole family involved) and add holiday items such as hot cocoa mix, cider packets, Christmas-themed snacks like candy canes and cookies, or even seasonal protein bars they can enjoy. It’s a Christmas care package idea that will remind them of the season back home.
Now that you are starting a list of things to get, let’s think of possible themes for your care package. Keep it fun: think of all the holiday puns, decorate, and get festive with all the Christmas cheer.
Here are some cheerful ideas for Christmas care packages:
1. Santa’s Workshop
Bring a little holiday magic to your service member with a Santa’s Workshop–themed care package, packed with fun, festive, and “elf-sized” surprises. Think travel-size games, puzzles, or tabletop activities that can keep them entertained, along with holiday-themed figurines or Funko Pop minis for a playful touch. Include practical yet whimsical items like mini toiletries, batteries, single-serve trail mix, individually wrapped cookies, mini seasoning packets, and a tiny stocking filled with small notes to brighten their days.
To really embrace the theme, decorate the box with elf-inspired quotes, stickers, and holiday cutouts. You can even create tiny tags for each item, as if a helpful Santa’s elf personally packed it. Tiny elf figurines tucked among the items add an extra layer of fun and holiday charm. This box transforms an ordinary care package into a playful, heartwarming “workshop” experience that brings a little piece of home and holiday cheer to deployment.
2. Taste of Home Christmas box
Deployments are tough, and your service member is likely missing the simple things that remind them of home. A “Taste of Home” box is the perfect way to send comfort across the miles. Fill it with the flavors, memories, and little hometown gems they’ve been craving. Think of items from their home of record or even favorites from your current duty station—anything that brings familiarity and warmth.
Include non-perishable local snacks, holiday treats, regional specialties, and small items that carry meaning. You might add single-serve local mini pies, locally made popcorn, a small ornament of a place they miss, or postcards instead of standard holiday cards.
If they love Hawaiian treats, for example, consider Li Hing–covered gummies, mochi crunch, or their favorite island snacks. These details bring the “taste of home” wherever they’re deployed. Decorate the box in state or city-inspired colors and designs—local sports teams, beaches, parks, or iconic landmarks.
Add cutouts, stickers, or flap quotes using state mottos, flowers, animals, or inside jokes only someone from home would understand. These thoughtful touches truly matter. Write notes like, “Wish you were here for our hometown Christmas tree lighting,” or any personal holiday tradition they’re missing. It’s these tiny reminders of home that make the distance feel a little smaller during the season.
3. Winter Survival Kit
Sometimes deployments feel like pure survival mode, and that’s exactly why a “Winter Survival Kit” makes such a thoughtful and comforting Christmas care package idea. Keep it practical, but add fun touches to brighten their toughest days. Fill it with self-care essentials—hydration packets, lip balm, lotion, hand warmers, earplugs, sleep masks, single-use heat patches for sore muscles, room spray, and other small comforts that help them recharge. Then sprinkle in festive cheer: holiday-scented hand sanitizer, peppermint tea, hot cocoa packets, winter-themed socks, seasonal candies, and cozy treats that bring a little warmth from home.
This box is perfect for those “pick-me-up” moments when deployment feels heavy or never-ending. For an extra layer of care, wrap items individually and label them with “open when…” notes tailored to their needs: “open when it’s been a long day,” “open when you need to relax,” or “open when you want to feel cozy.” Finish it off with winter-inspired decor—snowflake stickers, blue-and-white tissue paper, or festive wrapping—to give the whole kit a dose of holiday magic.
Care packages may look simple, but anyone who has been through a deployment knows how much they mean. As someone who’s received them before, I can say—there’s nothing like finding your name on a package during mail pick-up. In the middle of long days and holiday loneliness, that little box becomes a lifeline.
Deployments are tough on everyone, both at home and away. But a care package bridges the distance with comfort, familiarity, and love. Personalize it, make it meaningful, and trust that whatever you send, the real gift is the reminder: they’re not alone, and your love can reach them anywhere.
