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
- Emergen-C Drink Mix Packets
- Dehydrated, Baked, or Freeze-Dried Fruit
- Individual packets of hot sauce
- Peanut Butter (16 oz or less, no glass)
- Peanut Butter or Nutella packets or individual cups
- Individual packets of Ranch sauce/dressing (non-perishable)
Medium Stock Level: Needed Food Items
- Individual serving size packets of jelly
- Oatmeal (individual packets)
- Hot Chocolate (individual packets)
- Individual Microwavable Cups of Mac and Cheese or Pancakes
Adequate Stock Level: Low Priority Need
- Beef Jerky/Slim Jims
- Individual packets of mustard, ketchup, salt, and pepper
- Sweetener packets: Stevia, Splenda, Equal
- Mayo packets
- Ramen noodles
- Protein Powder
- Energy Chews
- Protein Bars/Granola Bars
- Rice Krispie Treats,
- Gum/Mints
- Crackers
- Trail Mix
- Cookies
- Crackers
Extremely Low Stock: Urgently Needed Medical/Vitamins/Other Items
- Men’s Shave cream/gel (non-aerosol only)
- Flat air fresheners (cardboard only, no liquid)
- Shoe/Boot Odor Eaters, inserts, or insoles
- Emergen-C Drink Mix packets
- Multi-vitamins
- Nasal Spray (no glass)
- Anti-Itch Cream
- Bandages
- Moleskin
- Neosporin
- Snack Size Ziploc bags
- Men’s Unscented Deodorant
- Women’s razors
- Women’s Unscented Deodorant
- Women’s Athletic Socks
- Sandwich Size Zipper Bags
- Quart Size Zipper Bags
Medium Stock Level: Needed Items
- Q-Tips (cotton swabs)
- Toothbrushes (individually wrapped)
- Eye Drops
- Dryer Sheets
- Toothpaste
- White or black athletic socks for Men
- Laundry Pods (Fragrance Free/Unscented)
- Laundry Sheets (Fragrance Free/Unscented)
- Men’s 3-in-1 (Shampoo/Conditioner/Body Wash)
- Foot Powder
Adequate Stock Level: Low Priority Need
- Lip Balm
- Dental floss and flossers
- Body Lotion (16 oz or less)
- Pain Relief Medication (100 count bottles or less)
- Small tissue packs
- AA and AAA batteries
- Mouthwash
- Cough Drops/Vitamin C Drops
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