We are proud to be continuing our collection for our troops! If you are interested in helping or donating you can see a list of items that we are collecting. Items can be dropped off at American Automotive Aftermarket at 50 Dunham Rd. in Billerica during our normal business hours. We appreciate our troops and all of our colleagues and friends who are eager to help!
What the Troops Ask For
Goods (cases of like kind goods, not necessarily assorted)
• $25 VISA and M/C gift cards (gives them maximum flexibility, for WIFI, etc)
• Personal hygiene items (unscented whenever possible)
o Wet wipes, individually wrapped
o Disposable razors (men’s and women’s)
o Chap sticks
o Body wash, lotion, face wash, mouth wash, deodorant, Q-tips, shampoo, conditioner
o Foot powder and the like
• Feminine products (unscented whenever possible)
o Small packs of napkins and tampons
o Female version of body wash, lotion, razors, face wash, mouth wash, deodorant, Q-tips,
hair de-tangler, face moisturizer, shampoo, conditioner
o Small grooming kits
• Laundry PODS packed in a sturdy plastic or metal container.
• Sunscreen
• Magazines (clean content)
• Fun posters and calendars for dressing the place up
• AA batteries
• AAA batteries
• Movies and music on thumb drives only (“USB devises are cool to send movies and current
shows on in digital form! Just please keep them virus free.”) (CDs, DVDs, and tapes are
useless)
• 2 GB + USB memory sticks (thumb drives) (blank)
• Cards, letters, group photos (we want the troops to know real people did this for them)
• Tobacco (“yes a lot of us smoke, dip, chew, and vape”)
Food (cases of like kind goods, not assorted)
• Beef jerky
• Hard candy
• Gum – all flavors
• Protein Bars (Quest/Mission 1/Combat Crunch; cookies and cream/chocolate)
• Protein Mixer Bottles/Shakers
• Cross Training Shoes – men’s sizes 11, 12
• Cordless/Electric Hair Clipper
• Cordless/Electric Nose/Ear Hair Trimmer
• Multi-tools
• 3M Sticky Wall Hooks
• Hand Sanitizer
• Cookies, crackers
• Corn nuts
• Chocolate Candy
• Candy Bars
• Rice Krispy Treats
• Slim Jims
• Granola and other snack bars
• Nuts other than peanuts in re-sealable containers
• Dried fruits in re-sealable containers
• Tins and packets of flavored coffee and cappuccino
• Breath mints
No-Nos
• No pressurized product (aerosol shave cream etc.)
• No cocoa
We will be coordinating our shipment through the Support Our Troops organization.
• Support Our Troops®
13791 N. Nebraska Ave.
Tampa, FL 33613
What the troops say when they receive care packages:
Care Packages Make a Huge Morale and Effectiveness Difference!
“Our base has also stopped the re-supply of candy and snacks at our dining facility, due to budget cuts and mission needs”
“Our boxes are not handled nicely and are stacked in containers about 20 deep so you can
imagine what the bottom one may look like when we finally get it.”
“Books, sadly who reads anymore. Bored troops still do, but not in great numbers. Popular
series and authors are best, romance novels are not that great unless someone asks for them.”
“Please do not send troops a lot of melty things like chocolate from 1 April to 1 October. .
Chocolate Bunnies and Peeps die in the mail in alarming numbers. We currently have 2 solid
3 pound blocks of gummy bears.”
“Any female Hygiene products would be greatly appreciated: body wash, lotion, razors, panty
liners, face wash, mouth wash, deodorant, tampons, Q-tips, hair detangler, face moisturizer, shampoo, conditioner, baby wipes. Any of the above would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!”
“Mint, butterscotch, and cinnamon disks are the last things to be eaten from a box of candy, or
at least there’s always those 3 items that are last in the bottom of the community candy box.”
“Beef Jerky rules! Slim Jims are ok too, but not if you are on a diet.”
“Dried fruits and tree nuts are awesome! No peanuts. Think almonds, cashews, cranberries,
cherries, and blueberries.”
“Easy open cans or pouches of things — not everyone has a can opener”
“Pre-loaded visa or other such cards to pay for WIFI (about $50 a month)”
“Liquid creamers are AWESOME (little plastic cup with a foil top), but they make a terrible
mess if they are busted, so need to be in a sturdy outer (plastic, metal) container.”
“Laundry PODS are awesome since I have to do my own laundry here. They make a terrible
mess if they are busted, so need to be in a sturdy outer (plastic, metal) container.”
“I wanted to say thank you so much for sending out the care package to my airman. She
received the box today and she was literally in tears and could not believe that there are
people who cared enough to send her a box. She said she felt like it was Christmas or better
because she has not had a Christmas since she was younger. It was great seeing her tell
everyone who walked in the office about the box. Again, thank you and your team for taking
the time to think of us over here and we truly do appreciate your support!”~~ SSgt Leticia —–
“Thank you for your thoughtfulness to the needs of our troops. The kindness you have shown
makes a difference in the day-to-day lives of our service members. God Bless you, and please
keep up with the things you are doing.”
~~ Lt. Ronald —-, USAF Wing Chaplain
“Thank you, Thank you, and Thank you so very much for the packages we received. We, the
2025th Transportation Company want you to know how appreciative we are for the phone
cards, games, magazines, books, toiletries, the food and all the other goodies that were sent to
us yesterday. Major H—- was overwhelmed with the packages that came in and he right away
distributed the goodies to all the soldiers. It is a hard road for us over here especially during
the holiday season. Being away from our families is really tough but with the goodies and gifts
it made everyone feel like getting into the holiday spirit. From the 2025th Transportation
Company Family we would like to extend our heartfelt “Thank You” for all of your support. We
will always have a place in our heart for you. Thank you.”
~~ Major Earnest — and the 2025th Transportation Company, Iraq
“I would like to send you the thank you’s from the whole D Co 1-130th ARB for the box you
sent to us. It was a very uplifting gift in these times. We deeply appreciate your support as we
carry on our mission. Recent events such the failed attempt against our nation in Detroit
remind us that we do serve a purpose in these often uncertain times. Once again, thank you
much for your support.”
~~SPC Christian D—–, D Co 1-130th, Basrah, Iraq.