There’s nothing funny about hunger, but fighting it can be a barrel of laughs.
Pickerington Community Theatre’s sketch comedy group, Pickerington Comedy Take-Out, takes a jovial approach to doing good with its Canned Laughter fundraiser.
The fundraiser, which began in 2014, is a charity comedy show that collects food and monetary donations for the PCMA Food Pantry of Pickerington.
“We started doing it just as a way to give back,” says Adam Schroeder, the vice president of the theater troupe and one of the co-leaders of Pickerington Comedy Take-Out. “People are hungry year-round, and we like to help fight that hunger by collecting money and food donations that go directly to the pantry.”
The show, which takes place in the spring, consists of sketch and improv comedy, a combination of original material and old sketches from The Carol Burnett Show.
“It is a fun and affordable night out,” says Schroeder. “You aren’t giving your money to a company that will benefit from it; 100 percent of your donations will help the food pantry directly.”
Helping the hungry is an important cause for Schroeder, he says, and that drive helped lead
Mary Lou Kunkler and Chris Gallaugherperform a sketch at the Canned Laughter fundraiser.
to the creation of Canned Laughter.
“Figuring out ways to get foods back into homes is a passion of mine,” he says.
In previous years, the event took place at the Pickerington Christian Church, but due to renovations, Schroeder says he is expecting the 2016 show to take place at Prince of Peace Presbyterian Church, where the troupe has been performing during the renovations. The show is expected to take place in the spring again, but has not yet been scheduled.
Pickerington Comedy Take-Out began as a branch of the theater troupe in 2010.
“At the end of the night, you can look at a table and say, ‘Wow, look at all this food we brought in,’ and you know it’ll help those who need it,” Schroeder says. “And even though we only may receive $50, $70 or $100 in donations, that’s going to help feed many families in the community.”
William Kosileski is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at gbishop@cityscenemediagroup.com.
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