Operation Southern Comfort now does good turns in the north

As of Tuesday, November 13, 2012 -9:50 a.m.

Liverpool — Back in October 2005, Norm Andrzejewski formed Operation Southern Comfort to help rebuild homes on the Gulf Coast which had been destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. Andrzejewski, who lives in Liverpool, assembled OSC’s army of volunteers, and together they rebuilt hope among Louisianians while rebuilding homes, one at a time.

Seven years later, the effort continues down South and last week, after Superstorm Sandy blasted the East Coast, Operation Southern Comfort became Operation Southern/Northern Comfort.

“A small group of volunteers went down to Staten Island and New Jersey last weekend to take some goods and supplies for Sandy’s victim,” Norm said. “They’ll also try to identify organizations for us to partner with.”

Helping Sandy’s survivors

Another downstate trip is planned for Thanksgiving week. “We expect that larger contingents will be traveling, beginning in December, either for week-long or weekend adventures,” Norm said.

Operation Southern Comfort is well-prepared to lend helping hands in the wake of natural disasters. In early 2007, the group formed small steering committee. That group now numbers nearly two dozen.

“They’re the people responsible for the major elements of the organization: finance, fund-raising, trip operations, community connections and public relations,” Norm said. Operation Southern Comfort has no paid staff.

If you’d like to donate, here are some of the things the Operation wants to share with Sandy’s survivors: boots, rubber gloves, socks, shovels, flashlights, batteries, paper products, cleaning supplies, contractor garbage bags, mops and brooms and gift cards from Home Depot, Sears and Lowe’s. For information, call Tammy Rivera at 744-0108 or Norm Andrzejewski at 559-9413.

Fish Cove Bayberry

After decades of ownership by Sarah Reid, the old Bayberry Seafood shop at Bayberry Plaza is now called Fish Cove Bayberry.

Its new owner, Joe Fedele, has operated the Fish Cove North Syracuse, 456 S. Main St., for four years and recently took over in Bayberry.

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