Sophie,
It's wonderful that you are getting involved with your local support group and volunteering with the family center; just super.
Here are some thoughts and ‘suggestions’ for you:
Between now and when he leaves, start a list which has various sections that include all sorts of ideas for putting together care packages to send off while he is away. A section which lists those favourite items which he likes to use and/or prefers to use, but won't have access. How about a section with quotes to add to each hand written note and a section which lists topics you can write to him about that mean something to you and him. Theme ideas for care packages; with a list of items he will enjoy and use.
You could also start picking up non-food items which have no expiry date to start a stash; remember to hide away these items, so he doesn't know what will be coming his way.
You could start working on making him some handmade items to send, using the computer, your craft skills or other forms of creativity, but nothing too big, so he doesn't have difficulty bringing it back with him. Be sure he doesn't see what you're up to, so he's surprised when he receives the completed, made with love, project.
Perhaps you could take some CTMH (Close to My Heart) card classes, to give you an opportunity to have a fun night out and make some handmade cards to send to him.
Every couple develops their own language; you could play up on this, in some way, when sending care packages; this could be done in by way of hand written notes, sending him items which will mean something special between you and him and any other way which occurs to you.
If you are a Christian family, you could start working on sending him a handmade spiritual bouquet. There are quite a lot of different ways to do this; just need to Google it.
You could start working on his first care package and send it just before he leaves, so there is something waiting for him when he arrives or shortly thereafter. You could also start working on some hand written notes to send to him, so you have some envelopes ready to go (rough draft on scrap, then re-write on nice stationary... don't worry too much about errors, just give them a strike out and keep writing).
Carry around a little pocket sized notepad and pen with you, so you can write down ideas, thoughts and his favourite items as they occur to you.
Start picking up items, here and there, as you can, for when you package-up the parcels (small boxes and/or plastic tubs within the allowed dimensions, binding tape, envelopes etc...).
Perhaps you could start shopping for some nice stationary sets for hand written notes: these can be tough to find, I'm constantly trying to find some, as I prefer to send hand written notes to loved ones, when I can. I try to find the nice boxed sets, but as I said, then can be tough to find. You could also make your own hand decorated stationary sets.
Remember to get his thoughts on what he would like to receive in care packages and write down the details.
Maybe the two of you could start each your own journal, writing thoughts leading up to his deployment. While he is away, he takes his journal with him and you both keep writing. Upon his return, you exchange journals and read what each other wrote. You could insert between some of the pages, the occasional photo and/or handwritten notes; to bind the journal, a long piece of leather lacing from a leather crafts supply shop.
Thinking about and working on these things in advance should, to some degree, help because not only does it distract you, but it will give you something to look forward to and work on (all the fun and enjoyment you'll have creating and putting together care packages to him).
Here are some Canadian links for you with ideas:
http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:wlhecxMZZmYJ:www.mainlandbcmfrc.com/images/Ideas%2520for%2520Care%2520Packages%2520for%2520Deployed%2520Soldiers.doc+soldier+care+packages+ideas&cd=7&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=ca&client=firefox-a
http://www.cafepress.ca/lovethetroops/491788
http://militarymomathome.blogspot.com/2009/01/care-package-ideas.html
http://www.mfrcmeaford.com/downloads/77.pdf
http://www.comoxmfrc.com/ideascarepkgdonations.html
This link is American, but it has a lot of good ideas: http://www.janellsretreat.com/carepackagethemes.html . Keep in mind that, the guidelines and what one can/can't send is different for the U.S. than Canada, so while most will apply, there may be the odd item that doesn't.
Remember to send lots of letters and often. You don't need to send a care package with every letter you write, though I would include a letter in each care package you do send.
Try stay focused on the pros and what you can do. There are so many ways you could use your boyfriends deployment to help your relationship grow and become even closer to one another.
It can be a lot of fun to shop for care packages, put them together and make handmade items to be included, making the care packages mutually beneficial for both you and your boyfriend.
Hope this helps.
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Edited to Add:
Sophie, while there are quite a lot of suggestions and ideas throughout this thread, on other threads and www; remember not to overwhelm yourself with trying to do it all. Start with selecting one or a couple or few or handful of this or that idea, depending upon what works for you, to work on and work towards and then go from there. You could always work on more later on, if time and situational details permit.
