ACCOMPLISHED
APPRECIATION
More than 150,000 troops and veteran families helped by Mt. Lebanon charity.
BY HEATHER HOLTSCHLAG
W
hat makes Operation Troop Appreciation
so special? Not only did it begin in the
basement of a Mt. Lebanon home in
2004, it will celebrate its 12th anniversary on July 1.
Founded by former Mt. Lebanon resident
Kristen Querriera, Operation Troop Appreciation
has supported more than 150,000 deployed troops
and more than 1,000 veterans’ families in Pittsburgh
since its inception.
Though Querriera currently resides in Iowa,
where her husband is stationed as a member of the
United States Army, she still remains an active voice
in the organization. “Operation Troop Appreciation
started at my kitchen table, and out of packed
boxes in my basement,” Querriera says. “I wanted
18 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE | Mt. Lebanon
to demonstrate tangible support to our troops
who were just beginning to engage in the wars in
Iraq and Afghanistan. A lot of people were driving
around with yellow ribbon magnets on their cars
that said “Support the Troops.” That inspired me to
actually do something that would make a difference.
No troops in Iraq would ever see a bumper sticker
or magnet on my car that said I supported them.
I wanted to show them in a meaningful way how
much their country was behind them and invested
in their safety, comfort and success.”
Operation Troop Appreciation is a federally
recognized 501c3 troop and veteran support
charity. The organization provides “wish list” items
for entire units of troops in Iraq, Afghanistan, the