Carlos Mencia brings laughs to tornado ravaged community - KOAM TV 7

Comedian Carlos Mencia performed at Joey Thumbs Dueling Piano Bar in Joplin on Wednesday night.

When Mencia heard about the EF-5 tornado that ripped Joplin in half, he says he felt he had to help.  Seeing the footage on television he was glad to see what people were doing for Joplin.

"It does say so much about America, you know, what I've been talking about is America's strength, America's kindness, America's optimism, and this just shows it," Mencia told us.  "These people just have a will to live that I find just astounding and it's awesome. This is going to be by far the most difficult and yet the most rewarding show I'll ever do."

Mencia donated the proceeds from the show to the Ozark Food Harvest.  It was standing room only with 240 tickets and 20 additional general admission tickets being sold.

Attending the performance was Crystal Cogdill, whose nine year old son was killed in the tornado.

"When the gentleman checked Zachary he said 'I'm sorry, he didn't make it' and so I was like 'no, I think he's okay,' and he said 'I'm sorry, he didn't make it,'" Cogdill says.

She says Mencia's performance was a way to escape reality, even if only for a little time, and share laughs with friends.

"I thought it was something I really wanted to see and really wanted to do, and yeah I try to do stuff to keep me busy because if I don't then I just start thinking about all that stuff," Cogdill says.

With a few hours of laughter Cogdill was able to have a little stress lifted in a time of tragedy.

"I just think it's a good thing, it makes me feel good and I just think it's awesome that he's doing it," she says.