Chelsea Mandello, founder and CEO of Troopster and a veteran herself,knows what it’s like to be deployed and how it feels to receive a care package. QTS is proud to partner with Troopster as the organization aligns with our core values and initiative to support our nation’s veterans.
1. Tell us about the mission and vision of your organization
Troopster’s mission is to increase the morale of the Armed Forces community – One service member, deployment and care pack at a time.
We aim to support our military members and Armed Forces community – including 1.3 million active-duty members, 3 million military families, reservists, DoD civilians and contractors. As a veteran-founded and operated organization, we understand the challenges troops face being deployed for extended periods of time away from home. Our personalized care packages provide essential supplies, comforts of home, and heartfelt messages to boost morale and ensure the troops know their sacrifices are not forgotten.
Our vision is for Troopster to become the household name and go-to company that military families and the entire Armed Forces community recognizes for personalized, high-quality care packages.
2. What inspired the creation of your nonprofit organization, and how has it evolved since then?
In 2013, I was serving in the U.S. Navy as a military photojournalist. I worked for Navy Public Affairs out of Norfolk, Virginia, but was on my 7th deployment to the 5th Fleet, an area that encompasses about 2.5 million square miles of water and includes the Arabian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman and parts of the Indian Ocean.
I was serving aboard the USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) and was working as part of a squadron for anti-piracy missions. Despite having deployed to 13 countries across 9 Navy ships at that point, I vividly remember the “heartbreak in a box” moment when a care package from my mom finally arrived but most items were no longer usable. I went online to see if there was a company that my mom could use to help send care packages that would make the trip and was surprised that nothing existed. At that moment, I realized the need for an organization that could curate location-specific, non-perishable care packages to uplift troops based on their unique circumstances.
Since launching Troopster in 2015 out of my home, we have sent more than 55,000 care packages to troops in more than 40 countries. We’ve transitioned from a hand counted inventory, to a warehouse management system and expanded our product offerings, and cultivated a dedicated network of corporate partners, community volunteers and donors.
3. How does your organization collaborate with the local community to achieve its goals?
Community collaboration is central to our model – we host volunteer packing events nationwide for groups to build personalized care packages and write supportive notes. Corporate partners leverage these for team building and giving back. Universities, schools and community groups connect through pack-a-thons during military-affiliated events. This hands-on approach allows meaningful engagement with our mission to boost troop morale.
4. What are some ongoing challenges your organization faces, and how do you address them?
A key challenge is rapidly evolving deployment locations and needs that require us to be highly adaptive in sourcing supplies. Supplies, logistics, and market costs are a never-ending battle, but every year we become more knowledgeable and grow our network of support, making us better at navigating these challenges. Similarly, we work to always optimize our processes and procedures, to include recently optimizing our warehouse operations to operate nimbly and meet demands.
As a proud partner, QTS is always excited to support your mission with our time, talent, and treasure.
5. Can you describe any upcoming events or programs where community members can get involved in or support your organization’s work?
Throughout the year, we welcome volunteers to help us at our warehouse in Sandston, Virginia with tasks like packing boxes, bundling supplies, and prepping shipments to troops overseas.
This September, Troopster will be working with QTS Data Centers to make 10,000 care packages for troops deployed around the world. QTS is hosting events across 20 site locations, and these will be a great opportunity for community members and volunteers to help for a few hours building care packages and enclosing personal notes of encouragement for the troops.
Community service groups or companies looking for team-building activities can reach out to get involved.
6. Could you share some recent success stories or impactful projects/initiatives your organization has undertaken?
We are always receiving letters from deployed units and service members in need of support, and our goal is to one day be able to support all of those who need it.
One powerful initiative we’ve had was responding to an urgent request from deployed female troops in austere environments asking for feminine care items. Our team, who understands the realities of these deployments from first-hand experience, sourced and shipped hygiene supplies, personal care items, workout shirts, and more. Their responses about finally feeling supported and cared for were incredibly moving.
7. What does the future look like for your organization?
My vision is for Troopster to become the household name and go-to company that military families and the entire Armed Forces community recognizes for personalized, high-quality care packages during one of the most challenging times in their lives. We aim to be the premier support platform for both deployed troops and their families back home in a sustainable way.
We’re investing in ecommerce technology to create a seamless experience for sponsors, donors and the troops themselves to make customized requests and send packages with a few clicks. We’re also exploring ways to extend our model of hands-on support for families back home who make great sacrifices when their loved ones are deployed.
At our core, Troopster will always provide those meaningful human connections and reminders of home across the miles. But we won’t stop until we are the brand synonymous with uplifting morale and meeting the needs of our nation’s heroes through personalized care packages assembled with love and a veteran’s understanding of their unique circumstances.
