The time is now for those sending holiday gifts and care packages to military men and women deployed overseas.

What items are most appreciated by service members?

"Probably the most appreciated is entertainment -- DVDs, video games and the like," says Dru Reeves, who after a 27-year Army career now is Sgt. 1st class in the U.S. Army Reserves. He is general manager of Horizon Screen Printing in Cape Girardeau.

So, as intense as the action might be, troops do face downtime, and in addition to DVDs and video games, board games and playing cards might be appreciated. Other options could be an iPod loaded with movies and music or an e-reader full of fresh book titles.

Reeves says the needs and wants of troops vary depending on their duty assignments – whether at a forward operating base, a.k.a. FOB, which is a forward military position supporting tactical operations, or at a main operating base.

At an FOB, personnel might have difficulty obtaining basic personal care items and would appreciate razors, lip balm, shaving cream, deodorant and the like. It's likely those in forward positions would be pleased with fresh white cotton socks and foot powder. In the sandy Middle East, lens-cleaning cloths and small bottles of lens cleaner may be appreciated.

"Other things that are useful are mini-mag lights, batteries and greeting cards that they can then send back home," Reeves says.

He also recommends sending snacks, but cautions against snack cakes or items with frosting that would melt, and home-baked goods that might spoil in transit because of a lack of chemical preservatives.

"The military loves beef jerky," Reeves says. "Anything that's easy to eat and fits in their pockets -- energy bars, granola bars -- is always a plus."

On its website, AdoptaPlattoon -- an organization of volunteers that sends mail, greeting cards, care packages and more to military personnel overseas -- provides guidelines for care package items. It suggests sending food items ranging from fruit and chicken in pop-top cans, condiments of all kinds, water-flavoring packets and powered drink mixes, instant coffee and tea bags, microwavable foods such as popcorn and instant soups and snacks including dry cereal, dried fruit, nuts, sunflower seeds, crackers and chips, pudding cups, chewing gum and hard candy.

In addition to basic toiletries, recommended personal care items include cushion inserts for boots, antacids, nail clippers, contact lens supplies, eye drops, disposable hand and foot warmers, vitamins, non-aerosol insect repellent and sunscreen.

While AdoptaPlattoon suggests sending fun-time items such as magazines, Frisbees, puzzle books and water guns, it cautions that service members probably have little space for clutter.

AdoptaPlatoon also offers packing tips, and advises triple-wrapping soap so its smell doesn't transfer to food.

Always welcome in care packages are hand-written letters, a child's artwork or a USB drive with videos of family events such as a child's first steps or a family get-together.

As important as the contents of a care package is what cannot be shipped. That list, according to AdoptaPlatoon, includes alcohol, pornographic materials, liquid hand sanitizer and aerosol cans. Each country has custom regulations that apply to incoming mail; for instance, pork products cannot be sent into Muslim countries.

Reeves says it's not unusual for organizations such as AdoptaPlatoon to send unaddressed care packages to certain units.

"There are people who aren't receiving regular stuff from home. Maybe they don't have a lot of family, or their family isn't well to do," he says.

Horizon, as a business, has supplied entire units with customized clothing.

"Two or three times a year, we'll get requests for a couple hundred T-shirts, sweatshirts or hoodies. We'll get an email or even a call; they'll supply their own design. It's a way of team building or morale boosting," Reeves says. "Usually, someone in the unit has a hometown connection to Cape Girardeau, or our information gets passed along."

The United States Postal Service has recommendations for preparing and mailing first-class mail and packages to military personnel at APO/FPO/DPO address. Deadlines are available at local post offices and online at about.usps.com/news/national-releases/2014/pr14_053.htm.