Video Transcript: CNY volunteers bring hope and service to people in need through Operation Northern Comfort
Mya Alysia: Laurel Flanagan and Joyce Reed are two of the people behind Operation Northern Comfort.
Alysia: This organization helps volunteers build homes, handcap-accessible ramps, desks and bookshelves.
Joyce Reed, Volunteer: The group of volunteers we step in and we fill in those cracks, and we help the people who don’t get the help from anyplace else. The people that we volunteer with have this passion.
Alysia: Reed operates the annual Syracuse Crawfish Festival, a fundraiser event to raise money for the organization, and the efforts helps people across the country.
Alysia: Flanagan says a new project they’re working on is for hurrican relief in North Carolina.
Laurel Flanagan: We go where we’re needed, when we’re needed, with the resources that we have. The people of Central New York are incredibly generous both with their time and their resources.
Alysia: ONC started with service trips to New Orleans for Hurricane Katrina relief. From there they expanded to other places, such as, North Carolina, Houston, and Mississippi.
Flanagan: We have supplies here in the North, but they don’t have much of anything in that area in the mountains of North Carolina so we would bring. Our goal is to bring three truckloads of supplies down to North Carolina the first weekend in December.
Alysia: Volunteers are committed to service and a promise of hope.
Alysia: Visit operationncc.org to help.
Alysia: Mya Alysia, NCC News.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — One organization in Central New York is making strides to offset the costs families face after tragedy.
Operation Northern Comfort is an organization made up of community volunteers who help build homes, handicap accessible ramps, desks and bookshelves.
“The group of volunteers, we step in and we fill in those cracks, and we help the people who don’t get the help from anyplace else. The people that we volunteer with have this passion,” said Joyce Reed, a volunteer.
The organization wouldn’t be where it is today without the help of the community and donations. ONC receives funding from its annual Syracuse crawfish festival, a fundraising event.
Donations raised are distributed solely to operational needs related to recipients, and the group’s efforts extend far beyond Central New York.
A new project they’re working on focuses on hurricane relief in North Carolina. Volunteers plan to bring non-perishable food, personal hygiene products and winter clothing to those in need.
“We go where we’re needed, when we’re needed, with the resources that we have. The people of Central New York are incredibly generous, both with their time and their resources,” said Laurel Flanagan, chief executive office.
ONC evolved from Operation Southern Comfort, which began with service trips to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Central New Yorkers who couldn’t join trips but wanted to help created ONC to continue to help locally.
Their efforts also extend to other places, including North Carolina, Houston and Mississippi.
“We have supplies here in the North, but they don’t have much of anything in that area in the mountains of North Carolina, so we would bring. Our goal is to bring three truckloads of supplies down to North Carolina the first weekend in December,” said Flanagan.
Volunteers remain committed to service and promise of hope.
Visit operationnnc.org to learn more or donate.