Below are the priority items we need:
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
- Energy chews
- Individual packets of Carnation Instant Breakfast or protein powder packets
- Protein Bars
- Dehydrated, Baked, or Freeze-Dried Fruit
- Individual packets of Coffee Singles
- Microwavable Food In a Cup: Pancake On The Go (individual serving 2.11 oz cup) and Macaroni and Cheese (individual serving 2.05 oz), Muffin in a Cup
- Gum/Mints
- Instant Oatmeal packets
- Individual packets of hot sauce, pickle relish
- Individually wrapped sandwich crackers (no small bags, such as Goldfish Crackers or Cheezits–they don’t ship well–small cartons are fine)
- Peanut Butter (16 oz or less, no glass)
- Pop-Tarts
- Pouched Chicken or Tuna (2.5 oz. / individual)
Medium Stock Level: Needed Food Items
- Individually Wrapped Tea Bags
- Ready to eat soup (no condensed soup, no glass, no bacon or any pork products)
- Pringles
- Rice Krispie Treats
- Individual serving size packets of jelly
- Canned Fruit (16 oz or less, no glass, no plastic fruit cups)
- Individual packets of mayo
- Ramen Noodles
Adequate Stock Level: Low Priority Need
- Beef Jerky/Slim Jims
- Hot Chocolate packets
- Individual packets of mustard, salt, and pepper
- Individual Trail Mix
- Sweetener packets: Stevia, Splenda, Equal
Extremely Low Stock: Urgently Needed Items
- Men’s Shave cream/gel (non-aerosol only)
- Women’s Shave cream/gel (non-aerosol only)
- Antacids (Rolls or 100 count or less)
- Multi-vitamins
- Nasal Spray (no glass)
- Anti-Itch Cream
- Bandages
- Neosporin
- Snack Size Ziploc bags
- Quart Size Ziploc bags
- Mouthwash (Alcohol Free Only, 17 oz or smaller)
- Foot Powder
- Men’s Unscented Deodorant
- Women’s razors
- Women’s Shampoo
- Women’s Unscented Deodorant
- Men’s 3 in 1 Shampoo/Conditioner/Body Wash
- Gallon Zipper Bags
- Laundry Pods (Fragrance Free)
Medium Stock Level: Needed Items
- Q-Tips (cotton swabs)
- Pain Relief Medication (100 count bottles or less)
- Eye Drops
- Vitamin C Drops
- Ziploc Bags Sandwich sized
- Dryer Sheets
- Toothpaste
Adequate Stock Level: Low Priority Need
- Lip Balm
- Dental floss and flossers
- Toothbrushes
- White/Black Athletic Socks
- Body Lotion (16 oz or less)
- Cough drops
- AA Batteries
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 (we cannot accept plastic, but aluminum cans are welcome)
- 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