Alabama Comedy Club Shenanigans Turns Into a Community Lifeline With New Food Pantry

A comedy club in Huntsville, Alabama, is showing that humor and heart can go hand in hand. Shenanigans Comedy Theatre, best known for its lively improv shows and stand-up nights, has taken a major step beyond entertainment by opening The Pantry at Shenanigans, a community food pantry that’s already making a big impact.

The idea began in late October when several locals contacted Shenanigans co-founder Jessica Cotton after hearing that SNAP/EBT benefits might face funding issues. Within hours, three residents — Mollie Holder, Janet Stephens, and Sarah Thornton — reached out with the same question: “What can we do to help?” By the end of the day, they had formed a committee, later joined by volunteer Justin Butler, and decided to set up a food pantry right inside the theater.

What’s remarkable is how quickly it all came together. In just five days, volunteers organized, collected donations, and stocked shelves. The pantry officially opened on Sunday, November 2, serving its first visitors only a week after the idea was proposed.

This initiative falls under “The Center,” the nonprofit arm of Shenanigans Comedy Theatre, which already operates several community programs — a free closet, library, and outreach group called Weird Kids for Life. The group is intentionally inclusive, welcoming neurodivergent individuals and the LGBTQIA+ community who may feel out of place elsewhere. Cotton says the goal has always been to build “a safe space for people who feel different,” and now that mission extends to helping them meet essential needs.

The Pantry at Shenanigans offers more than just groceries. Visitors can also pick up toiletries, feminine hygiene products, and pet food, and the volunteers make sure everyone’s unique needs are respected. Each visitor fills out a short survey about dietary restrictions, cooking limitations, or other requirements — whether that’s needing microwave-only meals or avoiding certain ingredients due to allergies or medical conditions. Holder explained that the pantry is designed to be inclusive, recognizing that people with autism or gastrointestinal disorders can’t always “just eat whatever’s available.”

It’s not just those with plenty who are donating. Holder shared that many contributors are people struggling themselves, giving what little they can. One woman, she said, told her, “I don’t have much, but I’ll grab a couple of things from your list.” That spirit of mutual care has defined the project from the start.

The pantry operates on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., providing about three to four days’ worth of food per visit. Volunteers also help connect patrons with other community services — including housing, legal aid, and mental health resources — through local nonprofit partners.

At its heart, The Pantry at Shenanigans is about bringing people together in times of uncertainty. The same people who make audiences laugh on stage are now helping their neighbors put food on the table. As Cotton puts it, “We’re all different, but that’s the beauty of it — this community is about accepting and uplifting those differences.”

For more information about Shenanigans Comedy Theatre and its outreach programs, visit their official website or follow local coverage from Rocket City Now.