Operation Southern Comfort

Operation Southern Comfort (OSC) is an all volunteer organization based in Central New York rebuilding hope for the people of the Gulf Coast by rebuilding homes, one at a time. OSC has no paid staff. All of our officers, members and travelers volunteer their time, energy and work effort.

OSC was born in October 2005, when a conversation took place between Norm Andrzejewski and Donlene Butler, two former neighbors in Algiers, Louisiana. It was the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina – Donlene was living in Belle Chasse, Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana – an area which had missed the brunt of Katrina, but not by much. Norm was living in Liverpool NY.

It was agreed that Norm would bring several people down to Plaquemines for a week to help with cleanup efforts; Donlene, a leader in the Belle Chasse Church of Christ, would find jobs for the group to accomplish – and provide room and board at the church.

In January, 2006, SC1 took place – 14 friends of Norm made the journey from Syracuse to the Gulf Coast – a 2-day, 1,400-mile drive with a stopover at a halfway point - Bowling Green, Kentucky. They traveled the weekends and worked a 5-day week cleaning up in Belle Chasse and other parts of Plaquemines Parish, and Meraux in St. Bernard Parish – the home of Donlene’s sister Kathy, one of 5 total projects for the week.

The end of the week brought elation regarding the hard work and accomplishments, along with consternation at the size and scope of the devastation, and the herculean job facing the residents of the Gulf Coast. The group was determined to come back.

The initial committee of Chuck Seereiter, Treasurer; Nick Wetter, Transportation Coordinator; and Norm Andrzejewski took the lead to plan subsequent trips. They recognized the need for some organization, and to raise money. They approached Father Charles Major, Pastor of St. Joseph the Worker Church in Liverpool (home parish of Nick & Norm), and asked to be a project of the parish, which Fr. Charlie agreed to quickly and without reservation. As a result, the project got non-profit status and the ability to get tax-deductible contributions and administrative support.

In early 2007, a small Steering Committee was formed. That group now numbers over 20. It contains the people responsible for the major elements of the organization: finance, fund-raising, trip operations, community connections and public relations.