All 172 Chicagoland Jewel stores have partnered with Operation Support Our Troops-America for a Shop and Drop event this Saturday and Sunday, March 9th and 10th from 10am to 6pm. The goal is to fill seventeen pallets, which Jewel will then deliver to OSOTAmerica’s volunteers to be packed and shipped to our troops overseas.

Operation Support Our Troops-America has been sending care packages for ten years to our service men and women. Last year, they reached the remarkable milestone of having sent one million pounds of care packages, twenty five pounds at a time. In 2012 alone over one hundred thousand pounds were sent, and they are hoping to surpass that number in 2013.

With the help of Jewel and the hundreds of volunteers of OSOTAmerica, you can remind our troops that we appreciate them and honor their sacrifice and service. Just by throwing a couple things in your grocery cart this weekend, you can make life just a little easier for a Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine or Guardsman who is thousands of miles from home. The items on the list provided are desperately needed, but the effort you expend is what is most appreciated.

The following list of the most requested and desperately needed items will be available at all Chicagoland Jewel stores Saturday and Sunday.

Jelly (32 oz or less, plastic jars only)

Peanut butter (28 oz or less, plastic jars only)

Coffee singles/one pound bags or cans of ground coffee

Pain relievers (Tylenol, Advil, etc)

Lotion for men (18 oz or less)

Lip balm (Chapstick, etc)

Mouthwash (250 ml or less)

Body wash for men (18 oz or less)

Flat pack tuna (foil packages)

Cold drink mix to put in bottled water

Beef Jerky/Slim Jims

Canned fruit (20 oz or less)

Nuts (20 oz or less)

AA or AAA Batteries

Ziploc bags (no slider bags please)