Mayflower Marathon Comedy Night to support Springfield’s Open Pantry
SPRINGFIELD — The Mayflower Marathon , a multiday food and fund drive to benefit Open Pantry Community Services, isn't until November, but on Thursday, you can come out to support Rock 102's mission to feed the hungry while enjoying a night of comedy.
The third Mayflower Marathon Comedy Night will begin at 7:30 p.m. at The Armory at MGM Springfield. Nationally acclaimed comedian Tom Cotter, an "America's Got Talent" finalist who has appeared on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" and "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson," will headline. He will be joined by special guests Steve Nagle, a Rock 102 DJ and comedian, and comedian Corey Gee.
Michael "Bax" Baxendale, longtime radio personality and jokester for Rock 102, will serve as host of the evening.
"It just grows year after year," Baxendale said of the Mayflower Marathon, which he's been involved with since 1995. "It started off as a radio station promotion, and it really grew into something much larger than that, where it's morphed into a full-blown community event. We have schools involved, local businesses get involved, and many of them go out of their way to raise a lot. People often think it's just about the Thanksgiving holiday, but this is much more than that. We've had years where the food will go all the way through March or even April."
According to a study by Massachusetts General Brigham and the Greater Boston Food Bank , 54% of Hampden County residents grapple with food insecurity, which is the highest percentage of any county in the entire state.
By contrast, the state average for food insecurity was reported at 37%.
"This could be people who are struggling financially, or people who may be taking care of an elderly parent, or people who maybe have lost their job. Suddenly, they have to make tough choices. Do I put food on the table for my family, or do I pay my rent?" Baxendale said. "These are real, tough choices that people are forced to make."
Thursday's Comedy Night aims to pick up on the success of last year's Mayflower Marathon, which brought in more than $217,000 in nonperishable food and funds for Springfield's Open Pantry.
The night also will feature a silent auction with items from MGM Springfield, the Springfield Thunderbirds, Chris Marion Photography and more; a $2,500 donation match courtesy of Dave Miner Exterior Home Improvements; and a limited number of specialty Springfield Thunderbirds Mayflower Marathon jerseys for sale.
Tickets for the Mayflower Marathon Comedy Night, priced at $55.20, can be purchased on the Rock 102 website .
Proceeds from ticket sales, auctions, the donation match and jersey purchases will directly benefit the Mayflower Marathon and support Open Pantry Community Services' mission to feed local families in need.
"Food insecurity can happen to anybody. It can happen to your friends, your family, your co-workers. Most people don't necessarily tell everyone they know 'Hey, I'm having problems with food insecurity.' A lot of people go through this in silence and don't share that information," Baxendale said. "They may hear the number, the percentage (of people facing food insecurity) and go, 'How is that possible?' It's absolutely possible. This could happen to anybody."
The Mayflower Marathon, a 52-hour radio broadcast, will begin at 6 a.m. on Nov. 24 and run through 10 a.m. on Nov. 26, outside of the South End Market at MGM Springfield.
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