NORFOLK, Va. - A local nonprofit that sends care packages to deployed service members is switching gears during the coronavirus pandemic to support healthcare workers on the front lines.
Troopster, founded in Norfolk in 2015, has launched an initiative to raise $1.1 million to send 50,000 essential care packages to hospitals, doctors, nurses and other first responders.
"These kits will include surgical masks, gloves, antibacterial travel soap, but it will also have items so that if these nurses or doctors are on the go, a lot of times from what we’ve heard they are not getting a lot of sleep. They are not really eating too well, so we are going to also includes some high protein bars, some energy bars, even some stress balls and toiletries, so if they are having to spend the night at the hospital they can have some appropriate hygiene items for that as well," Troopster founder and CEO Chelsea Mandello told News 3 anchor Todd Corillo on Wednesday.
Since 2015, Troopster has sent more than 12,000 care packages to service members around the world. They're using their existing framework to support the new initiative.
"We do have the facility and the ability to fill these packages which is why we felt that it was really our responsibility to help these healthcare heroes," Mandello said.
You can help Troopster meet its goal by visiting the fundraiser here or by texting "COVID19" to 855-202-2100 to get a link to donate.
