High School Comedy Troupe Serious about Helping St. Clare Health Clinic

crown-point-bulldogs-logoThe Crown Point High School Stray Dogs Improv Group will donate proceeds of a May 30 performance to St. Clare Health Clinic, which since 1996, has provided free medical, educational and referral services to underprivileged area residents.

“Stray Dogs Improv Comedy Night,” the second of two shows the troupe performs annually, will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. in high school auditorium and feature students who must audition to be accepted into the popular extracurricular program, which has been offered since 2008.

The students will perform improvisation comedy skits suggested by audience members -- who sometimes are asked to participate in the performances -- and stand-up routines.

The group’s director is Don Bernacky, a social studies teacher who has been with the school since 1997 and also has had a successful stand-up career and landed parts in numerous network television shows and high-profile films.

The students deemed St. Clare a worthy cause after a recommendation by two of them, whose mother is a clinic employee, explained its purpose and community value.

Proceeds from the group’s first shows of each season benefit the Lake County Animal Shelter.

A $5 donation is asked for show admission. The school is located at 1500 S. Main St. For more information, call (219) 663-4885.

St. Clare, which is under the auspices of Franciscan St. Anthony Health-Crown Point, is located at 1121 S. Indiana.

Donations of nonperishable food items, as well as clothing and other necessities, may be brought to the clinic between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

Franciscan St. Anthony Health’s Prenatal Assistance Program, which also is located at St. Clare, is in need of diapers, formula, baby items and new or gently used clothing, sizes newborn through 3T.

The program likewise provides free assistance to needy area residents. For more information on the programs, call Jansen at (219) 663-2160, ext. 263.