Below are the priority items we need:
CLICK HERE to print the below list.
General Donation List of Items We Always Need:
(Please check expiration dates as we cannot accept expired products). Check back often as list will be updated as inventory levels change.
Extremely Low Stock: Urgently Needed Food Items
- Individual packets of protein powder
- Gruns Super Greens Gummies
- Individually wrapped packages of cookies and crackers
- 16 oz. Jars of Peanut Butter (no glass)
- Microwavable Food in a Cup (Mac & Cheese, Pancake, Oatmeal, Muffin)
- (No cups of Ramen please, flat packs only)
- Individual serving sizes packets of jelly
- Instant Coffee Single Serve Packets (Starbucks, Folgers, Nescafe, Taster’s Choice, etc.)
- Liquid IV individual hydration packets
- Tuna (pouches only, no cans please)
Medium Stock Level: Needed Food Items
- Oatmeal (individual packets)
- Ramen (Flat Packs Only)
Stock Levels are completely full at this time for the items below. These items are not needed at this time, we will update this page frequently as inventory levels change.
- Individual packets of mayo, mustard, ketchup, pickle relish, salt, and pepper
- Hot sauce packets
- Protein Bars/Granola Bars
- Microwave Popcorn
Extremely Low Stock: Urgently Needed Medical/Vitamins/Other Items
- Individually Wrapped Dude Wipes
- Rolls of Antacids
- Gruns Superfoods Green Gummies
- Non-aerosol Sunscreen (tubes, bottles, and packets) up to 8 oz.
- Small Puzzle Books 8″ x 5″ (Soduko, Word Search, Crossword Puzzle, etc.)
- Non-aerosol Men’s Shave cream/gel (bottles, tubes, or packets)
- Flat air fresheners (cardboard only, no liquid)
- Shoe/Boot Odor Eaters, inserts, or insoles
- Cough Drops/Vitamin C Drops
- Emergen-C Drink Mix packets
- Anti-Itch Cream
- Moleskin
- Neosporin
- Individually Wrapped Lens Wipes
- Alcohol Free Mouthwash (Travel Size)
- Men’s 3-in-1 Shampoo/Conditioner/Body Wash (up to 18 oz)
- Travel size lotion
Medium Stock Level: Needed Items
- Lip Balm
- Small Tissue Packs
- Pain relief medication (100 ct. bottles or less or individual packets)
- Q-Tips (cotton swabs)
- White or black athletic socks for Men
- Bandages
- Toothbrushes (individually wrapped)
- Laundry Pods (Fragrance Free/Unscented)
- Laundry Sheets (Fragrance Free/Unscented)
- Foot Powder
Stock Levels are completely full at this time for the items listed below. These items are not needed at this time, we will update this page frequently as inventory levels change.
- Dental floss and flossers
- AA and AAA batteries
- Snack Size Ziploc Bags
- Quart Size Ziploc Bags
- Gallon Size Ziploc bags
- Canned goods
- Bottles of Vitamins
- Eye Drops
- Nasal Spray
- Men’s Deodorant
- Toothpaste
- Dryer Sheets
Shop at home from our Amazon Wishlist and everything will ship directly to us!
CLICK HERE to see our list and start shopping!
IMPORTANT: Please Read
We cannot accept expired items–we cannot use them.
We cannot accept the following items due to either shipping restrictions, products not arriving intact (bursting during shipping), or items our military members do not want or cannot use based on their deployment situation/location. Thank you for your understanding.
If you have any questions or need assistance, please call us at 630-971-1150 or email [email protected].
- Glass jars of any kind
- Aerosols of any kind
- Canned vegetables
- Salad dressing
- Bottled BBQ sauce
- Non-microwaveable pasta
- Full size boxes of cereal or individual bags/boxes of ceral
- Bagged potato chips and other fragile snack items that will crumble during shipping (Pringles, crackers and cookies are ok)
- Bar soap
- Full size tissue boxes
- Liquid coffee creamer
- Pasta sauce
- Boxes of dry pasta
- Evaporated or condensed milk
- Liquid protein or energy drinks (powdered packets are welcome)
- Fruit cups and canned fruit
- Canned Soup
- Applesauce cups
- Large hand sanitizer containers (sanitizing wipes are fine)
- Pork products of any kind or any product that includes pork (ham and bacon)
- Mouthwash with alcohol in it, we can accept alcohol free mouthwash
Thank you for your support!
As the needs of the military change due to smaller and fewer bases and less area for storage, we too must adapt what we are putting in our packages. Please note that our list of most needed items does change often. If you are organizing a collection, please Click Here for our collection guideline document in Word format and be sure to contact [email protected] prior to starting your collection and when you are ready to drop off your collection drive and we can set up a date and time for delivery. Thank you!!
**Please do not donate any expired items–we cannot use them. **
Thank you for helping us support our troops!!
Thank you for your interest in Operation Support Our Troops-America. All of the items we send to the troops are obtained through donations, so by spearheading a collection drive, you are doing vital work for our organization. There are a few guidelines to consider that will help make your collection go smoothly, and will maximize our ability to utilize everything collected.
Instructions and Tips for Collection Drives
We have found that setting a specific time period for the collection is most helpful. A two week span from the start of the drive until it is delivered to us seems to be ideal. For our planning purposes, we would ask that you advise us of the beginning and end dates of your drive.
After several years of packing and sending boxes, we have devised an efficient system of sorting the items and packing the boxes that we send to the troops. For this reason, we ask that items should not come to us already assembled into premade “care packages” or “bagged assortments”. It is not necessary for you to sort anything…the items can be delivered to us “as is” and we will take care of the rest. If you absolutely feel the need to give the items to us in some orderly fashion, they can be roughly sorted into “food” and “nonfood” groups.
Besides collecting donated goods, we also welcome letters to the troops. Every care package includes at least one letter from a citizen, and these letters are highly prized by their recipients. Consider having your drive include the collection of letters to the troops. Since we send to every branch of the military, and not all military personnel are called “Soldiers”, we prefer the more generic greeting of “Dear military member” in the letters. Please do not seal the letters. The letters do not require postage and if you would like the individual that receives your letter to possibly write back, include your name and address.
When your drive is over, we ask that you contact us at [email protected] to arrange a time to drop off the items at our Lisle warehouse.
Once again, thank you for the time and energy you will be putting into your collection drive. OSOT-America could not continue our mission without the help of individuals such as you.
Operation Support Our Troops-America
1807 S. Washington St.
Suite 110, #359
Naperville, IL 60565
630-971-1150