Most Needed Items:
Food Items
– Sandwich Crackers
– Canned Fruit (16oz or less, no glass, no fruit cups)
– Dehydrated, Baked or Freeze-Dried Fruit
– Individual Cold Drink Mix (Gatorade, Propel, Lemonade Singles, etc.)
– Individual Hot Drinks (Hot Chocolate, Coffee Singles, Wrapped Tea Bags)
– Jerky/Slim Jim
– Trail Mix/ Snack Nuts (Individual Packs)
– Crackers/Cookies (Snack Bag Size)
– Microwave Popcorn
Non-Food Items
– Mouthwash (17oz or smaller)–URGENTLY NEEDED
– Toliet Paper
– Tums/Rolaids/Antacids (96 count or less)
– Anti-Itch Cream/ Nasal Spray (no glass)
– Lotion/Shampoo (all 16oz or less)
– Shaving Gel (Non-Aerosol)/ Razors
– Foot Powder
– #10 Envelopes (letter-sized)
General Donation List of Items We Are Always in Need of:
Food Items
- Pouched Chicken or Tuna
- Sandwich Crackers
- Canned Fruit (16oz or less, no glass, no fruit cups
- Granola Bars
- Fruit Snacks
- Individual Creamer Packets (Powder) / Sugar Packets
- Dehydrated, Baked or Freeze-Dried Fruit
- Rice Krispie Bars
- Individual Trail Mix
- Crackers/Cookies (Snack Bag Size
- Individual Snack Size Nuts
- Gum
- Jerky/ Slim Jim
- Pop Tarts / Breakfast Bars
- Instant Oatmeal Packets
- Individual Cold Drink Mix (Gatorade, Propel, Lemonade Singles)
- Individual Hot Drinks (Hot Chocolate, Coffee Singles, Wrapped Tea Bags)
- Microwave Popcorn
- Pringles
Non-Food Items
- Mouthwash (17oz or smaller)–URGENTLY NEEDED
- Toliet Paper
- Eye Drops/ Saline Solution
- Nasal Spray (no glass)
- Anti-Itch Cream
- Toilet Paper
- Lotion/Body Wash/ Shampoo (12oz or less)
- Foot Powder
- Antacids (rolls or 100 ct. or less)
- Hand Sanitizer (large & small)
- Feminine Products
- Individual Sanitizing Handi-Wipes
- Dental Flossers
- Deodorant
- Hand Warmers
- AAA/AA Batteries
- Baby Wipes
- Cough Drops
- White/Black Athletic Socks
We are in need of the following new items for Military Working Dogs:
- Ruffwear Dog Booties for Large Breed Dogs
- Toys for Large Breed Dogs
- Collapsible Food and Water Dog Bowls for Large Breed Dogs
Please note that dog treats cannot be accepted due to the strict diet of the dogs.
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. The requests are for more food items and I-Tunes cards has been expressed to us and so in an attempt to honor the needs of our troops we will no longer be accepting books, magazines, used CD’s or used DVD’s to include in the packages. By no means does this suggest that those still deployed do not continue to need our support and we hope that we can continue to count on you to show our military they are not forgotten. Please see below for our current list of most needed items and note that this list 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 collections@osotamerica.org prior to starting your collection. To deliver a collection to our warehouse, please contact collections@osotamerica.org for the address and to arrange a date/time for delivery. Thank you!!
Please do not donate glass items, larger sizes than listed or expired items. No prepacked boxes can be accepted.
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.
Most Needed Items
Our needs are always changing, depending on the season, recent donations, and space available in the warehouse. It would be most helpful if you visited our website at https://www.osotamerica.org/products-needed/ to view the most recent “top ten” list and focused your attention on collecting items within that group. That will ensure that the items collected will all be put to immediate use. Thank you for your support!
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 collections@osotamerica.org 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