Hi there, I'm sorry to hear that your husband is leaving soon. I completely understand. My husband is getting ready for his third tour. I've become a pro at goody boxes and all this deployment stuff.
Do you know about flat rate boxes that the post office has? They are free priority shipping boxes that cost $8.10 to send up to 25lbs and you would be amazed at the stuff you can send. You can order the boxe, the customs forms and the tape for free at the usps website.
Here is a compiled list that I have. Don't send chocolate when it gets the hottest part of the year as it just doesn't get there very well.
Suggestions for Goody Boxes
Things not allowed: alcohol, pornography, and pork products; hold off on home made goods until we see how long it takes to get boxes over there.
Food/Snack Items
Beef/turkey jerky
Ham, chicken or tuna salad lunch kits (includes the can of meat, crackers, mayo, relish, and little spoon)
Cans/sealed packages of chicken, ham, or tuna in a bag (little packets of mayo can be found at gas stations to send along)
Crackers including soda, salad, and Ritz
Baby canned hams
Small summer sausage
Pasta buckets
Cans of soup with pop tops
Tabasco sauce or bbq sauce
Hard candy
Little Debbie snacks
Cans of chips such as Torengos or Pringles
Plastic bowls or cans of dips including salsa, cheese dip, and bean dip
Granola/cereal bars
Lunch box sized packets of cookies, cheese nips, cheese &cracker/breadsticks
Good coffee or cocoa
Juice boxes off the shelf not the cold section
Pre-sweetened drink mix like kool-aid, tea, lemonade, or Gatorade
General Items
Boxes of holiday greeting cards unsigned
Envelopes, paper, and pens
DVDsblank and with programs
Cdsblank and recorded
AA batteries
Intl phone cards (best found at post office)
Magazines and local news papers
Disposable cameras if applicable
White athletic socks
Good toilet paper
Deck of cards
Handheld/travel size games
Frisbees
Athletic equipment like basketball, football, and soccer
Board games
Books/books on cd
Theme Boxes
Holiday boxes including funny or cute decorations
Stocking filled in a box
Coffee/cocoa box (include things like biscotti, cookies, or flavorings with the coffee)
Birthday box
Movie night box (sweets, a dvd movie, microwave popcorn and whatever else sounds good)
Please feel free to PM me or email me anytime. I understand all about the worries and the butterflies and everything else you are going through. Good luck and I hope you and your sweets has a speedy deployment with great communication.