RICHMOND, VA (November, 19, 2024) - When faced with the daunting task of shipping 10,000 care packages to deployed troops this holiday season, a USPS representative serving the Hampton Roads and Richmond region demonstrated that individual dedication can overcome systemic challenges.

During a massive nationwide logistics initiative by veteran-operated nonprofit Troopster Military Care Packages, in partnership with QTS Data Centers, more than 160,000 premium products were assembled into care packages for troops deployed during the holiday season. The collaboration, which took place throughout fall 2024, coordinated volunteer packing events across 20 QTS locations nationwide, assembling personalized care packages filled with carefully selected items including Duke Cannon Survival Tubes, Righteous Felon Jerky, Love Corn, and an assortment of essential snacks and hygiene items that bring comfort to deployed service members away from home during the holidays.

Ismael Villa, a USPS postal representative whose territory spans from Hampton Roads to Richmond, emerged as the driving force behind the initiative's success when logistical challenges threatened to derail the mission. As multiple post offices nationwide refused pickups and created roadblocks, Villa's dedication ensured that thousands of care packages would reach their intended recipients.

Founded by U.S. Navy veteran Chelsea Mandello, Troopster operates from its headquarters in Sandston, Virginia, just outside Richmond. The veteran and military spouse led organization specializes in creating personalized care packages for deployed service members, ensuring troops receive essential items and comfort goods from home. This recent holiday initiative with QTS marks Troopster's largest corporate partnership to date, supporting the organization's mission of serving the over 38,000 troops currently awaiting care packages.

"The opportunity to support 10,000 troops during the holiday season came through this generous partnership with QTS that aligned perfectly with our mission," said Mandello. "We coordinated packing events across 20 locations nationwide, bringing communities together to support our deployed service members. Having Ismael's support in both our home base near Richmond and throughout the U.S. proved invaluable to our mission of bringing holiday cheer to our troops."

While eight U.S. postal locations picked up and processed scheduled shipments without issue, many others displayed significant resistance, with some postal workers claiming prepaid labels were expired or refusing scheduled pickups due to the volume of packages. Villa's support extended beyond typical duties as he coordinated with multiple facilities, addressed systemic issues, and ensured that packages ultimately reached their intended recipients.

"We faced a surprising and disheartening challenge with some of the post offices," said Mandello. "We would schedule the pick up of packages, detailing the size of the pick up, only to have the post offices in that area ignore or cancel the request. We scheduled multiple requests with up to 15 or more no-shows. At one point we had to file complaints at nearly a dozen post offices. If it hadn't been for the help of our local postal reps going to bat for us, I'm not sure these packs would be on their way to the troops even now."

Some volunteer locations had to resort to renting U-Hauls just to transport packages to post offices when scheduled pickups failed to materialize. However, through it all, Villa worked tirelessly across his, and other, territories to find solutions and advocate for the mission.

"Each box represented more than just a shipping label to Ismael," Mandello noted. "He understood that real people – our deployed troops – were waiting for these packages, and he refused to let internal postal challenges stand in the way."

For the military community throughout Richmond and Hampton Roads, Villa's dedication exemplifies the regions' steadfast support for service members. His efforts highlight how local individuals can make a national impact when they choose to see beyond paperwork to the human element of their work.

"In a time when we often hear about systemic challenges within shipping and logistics, Ismael stands as an example of how our region's commitment to supporting our troops can overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles," Mandello concluded. "His work across Richmond and Hampton Roads has made a real difference in the lives of thousands of deployed service members who will now receive their holiday care packages."

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About Troopster Military Care Packages:

Based in Sandston, VA, Troopster is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded by a U.S. Navy Veteran. Dedicated to supporting deployed military personnel through personalized care packages, Troopster has delivered more than 60,000 care packages since 2016 and continues to work with corporate partners to provide comfort and support to service members worldwide.

About QTS Data Centers:

QTS Realty Trust, LLC is a leading provider of data center solutions across a diverse footprint with over two gigawatts of critical power capacity under customer contract in North America and Europe. Through its software-defined technology platform, QTS delivers secure, compliant infrastructure solutions, robust connectivity and premium customer service to leading hyperscale technology companies, enterprises, and government entities. QTS is a Blackstone portfolio company. Visit QTS at www.qtsdatacenters.com or call toll-free 877.QTS.DATA.

About the U.S. Postal Service:

The United States Postal Service is the only federal agency mandated to provide universal service to all Americans, connecting every community, from the largest cities to the smallest rural towns. A self-funding agency that receives no tax dollars for operating expenses, USPS delivers to 163 million addresses, covering every state, city and town in the country. With a network of more than 31,000 Post Offices and more than 650,000 employees, USPS is one of the country's largest employers and a cornerstone of the $1.6 trillion U.S. mailing industry. For more information, visit usps.com or usps.com/news.