Operation Support Our Troops

Operation Support our Troops (OSOT) was founded as an organization of people associated with the United States Military Academy: cadets, parents, graduates and family. It now encompasses family members of all branches of the United States military. As officially recognized by West-Point.Org, Inc., the non-profit organization founded by a wife of a graduate of the United States Military Academy, OSOT has neither political agenda nor a desire to critique or affect policy. OSOT strives in its activities to further the mission of improving the morale and welfare of the military forces of the United States of America.

OSOT is all encompassing .... it includes Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines, active duty, reserve and guard units.

Cash donations are greatly needed to help defray the cost of shipping boxes to military postal collection spot in New York. If you can't give cash, checks should be made out to OSOT. Also in need are boxes in which to ship the donated items. Book sized boxes are best, or a box 18" x 12" x 12".

The rules of OSOT are simple, but the success of OSOT depends on the adherence to these rules:

1.) Because our primary concern is the security of our troops, we NEVER share names or addresses with anyone.

2.) We never give out information about troops to anyone.

3.) All rules for packing boxes will continue as stated:

* No home-baked goods unless you are sending to your own son or daughter

* All food items MUST be in their unopened original packages

* All boxes will be packed and inspected by military family members

* All postal and custom regulations will be followed.

Back to Top

Items you can't send:

Back to Top

* Obscene Articles & Comics - Obscene articles, prints, paintings, cards, films, videotapes, etc., and horror comics and matrices are prohibited.

* Objectionable Material - Any matter depicting nude or seminude persons, pornographic or sexual items

* Firearms of any type

* Pork Prohibited - Pork or pork by-products are prohibited.

* Live fruits, animals, and plants are prohibited.

* Alcoholic Beverages - All alcoholic beverages are prohibited.

* Alcoholic Beverages - Materials used in the production of alcoholic beverages (i.e., distilling material, hops, malts, yeast, etc.) are prohibited.

PERSONAL CARE ITEMS:
Back to Top Note: For toiletries send UNSCENTED items if available.

* Chap-stick, Blistex
* Non-medicated eye drops
* Lens cleaners
* Hand & foot cream & body lotion
* Foot and body powder  - Gold Bond Powder is a particular favorite
* Shampoo  and conditioner  (small sizes)
* Hand sanitizers, such as PURELL
* Emery boards, nail clippers
* Facial cleansing pads
* Large Baby wipes (soft packs are best)
* Kleenex packets
* Q-tips
* Hand and feet warmers (as used by skiers, hunters, etc.)
* Athlete's foot medicine, such as Lotrimin
* Deodorants
* After shave gel or lotion
* BLACK  or WHITE tube socks
* Boxer short (sm, med, lg and x-lg)
* Brown army T-shirts(med, lg and x-lg, must be bought at PX or Army surplus store)
* Mole skin & blister packs
* Gel Insoles for their boots
* SOFT Toilet Paper
* DENTAL FLOSS
* Vitamin C drops
* Zinc tablets (Cold-eezz cough drops & throat lozenges)
* Toilet paper
* Bath gel
* Toothpaste
* Tooth brushes
* Disposable razors
* Shaving cream

FOOD/SNACKS:
Back to Top

* Cold drink mixes - powdered pre-sweetened drink mixes
    *** Crystal Lite, Wylers Lemonade, Tang, Gator Aid
* Hot beverages in individual packets, in both regular & diet:
    *** FLAVORED instant coffee & teas ( herbal)
    *** Gourmet Coffee, ground, ALWAYS requested
    *** Powered coffee creamer, plain and flavored
    *** instant hot cocoa mix
    *** spiced apple cider mix
* Individual serving sized fruits - no refrigeration needed
* CEREALS, including instant oatmeal in "fun flavors", sweetened dried 
  cereal - individual or big boxes - for snacks
* Trail mix,
* Granola cereal and  bars
* Pop-Tarts - all flavors
* Protein bars (all types that won't melt)
* Foil packs or easy open, pop top cans of tuna or chicken
* Individual servings of chili, Mac & cheese, stews, etc. They are 
  microwave-able but they also heat in the sun
* Beef & Turkey Jerky ( No Pork Allowed ) 
* Beef Slim Jim's or beef sticks, beef salami or pepperoni
* Cup of soup, cup of noodles, top ramen, any type that is instant
* Individual wrapped cookies, snack cakes, etc, like Twinkies, Rice Crispy 
  treats, oatmeal cookies, Nutter butter cookies, graham cracker sticks
* Flavored crackers, Chex mix & cheese nips
* Dorotios, Pringles (all flavors), Tostitos
* SPICY snack foods
* Potato  sticks
* Pretzels
* Flavored popped corn, fiddle-faddle, cracker jacks,
* Salsa & canned dips (not refrigerated)
* Crackers & cheese spread in bottles
* Cheese & crackers and peanut butter & crackers in individual plastic cups
*** CANDIES including:
    Hard candy, red licorice, Sweet Tarts, M&Ms, mints, 
    Jolly Ranchers, Star-bursts, Life Savers
	EVERYTHING needs to be individually wrapped
* Gum - lots of it, regular & sugar free
* Hershey bars, peanut butter cups, snickers, mint patties, all types of 
  chocolate.
* Dried fruit & fruit roll-ups
* Nuts - all kinds (pistachios; sunflower seeds in shell, peanuts; cashews)

OTHER NEAT THINGS TO INCLUDE:
Back to Top

* Letters of support, cards from students, scouts or church groups

* Disposable cameras. The pictures they take now will become
  priceless memories of a time they will never forget.
* Batteries AA and AAA
* ONLY ATT Phone cards
* ”Hot Hands & Hot Feet” hand and foot warmers as used by hunters and skiers
* Liquid laundry detergent
* Fly swatters
* Magnet backed photo holders and small  personal albums
* Pens(preferably black ink), stationary
* Postcards & greeting cards, to send to their families
* Nerf balls, whiffle ball & bat
* Volley ball & net, soccer balls, basketballs, Frizbees 
* Travel size electronic games
* Hand pumps to inflate balls
* Dominoes, cribbage boards, trivial pursuit & other board games
* Velcro dart game for their tents & other indoor type games
* Music & movie DVDs & CD's, taped sporting events
* CD-R computer games, electronic games, game boy
* Use the Sunday comics and  sports section as packing material
* ½ gallon size plastic containers to mix the drink mix in
* Freezer weight Ziploc bags, all sizes, but especially gallon size
* Mouse traps and fly paper
* Duct tape(green, black, or gray)
* Funnels to get drink mix into their canteens
* Cigars (keeps the insects away)
* Febreeze(helps kill the odor of their stinky uniforms
* Neck coolers (still in the 100s in Baghdad)
* Blank music CDs and jewel cases or paper sleeves
* Self adhesive envelopes
     The others don't adhere well, especially if sand gets on them
* Decorations for any upcoming holiday from the dollar store
* Comic books

Where to Drop Off Your Donations

Paula and Lee Ann of Scrapbook Cupboard have graceously

allowed us to use their wonderful store as the drop off location for

all of your donated items. See the map below.