Comedy concert provides laughs and a helping hand

By Lisa Robertson
Special to The Review

For 20 years Forgotten Harvest has been able to provide free food to needy families in Hamtramck and the metro area.

Unfortunately, the need gets bigger instead of smaller as the years go by.

“The biggest hurdle is knowing that while we have doubled our output from 9.5 million pounds to over 19 million pounds, it’s still not enough,” said Russ Russell, the Chief Development Officer for the organization.

To help reach that goal, a comedy concert will be held on May 15 at the Music Hall Center for Performing Arts in downtown Detroit and will feature comedian David Coulier.

Coulier played the role of “Joey” in the hit TV show “Full House.” He later moved on to hosting shows like America’s Funniest Home Videos, and now does stand up all over the US. In his comedy career he has supported many causes and hopes to provide support to the hunger relief in the United States and abroad.

Joining him will be comedian Ken Brown, a Detroit native. Proceeds from the concert will go toward purchasing 16 million pounds of emergency food that will be distributed to several local food banks.

Russell said providing relief to the area’s needy has been a chore and a reward.

“To help those on the frontlines who are serving the poorest of the poor in our community is of the greatest rewards,” he said. “To help a mother, who does not know where her next meal is coming from for her kids; and to provide for her is more than meaningful. It is life changing for her and for Forgotten Harvest.”

Tickets for the fundraiser range from $25 for general admission to $150 for Patron Seating, which includes an “After Glow Meet & Greet.”

For more information visit www.forgottenharvest.org.