SHORT TAKES : Smirnoff Helps CARE Aid Soviets
Yakov Smirnoff, the Soviet-born comedian who built his career on jokes about his homeland, is serious about doing what he can to ease the food shortage gripping the Soviet Union.
Smirnoff joined with members of the CARE charity organization Thursday in Los Angeles in putting together a package of tuna fish, chicken, soap and other necessities for Soviet people.
The naturalized American citizen said that although his homeland has more freedom now than when he left in 1978, the economy has declined.
“The Soviet people are inspired by the freedoms they are getting, but unfortunately, the food shortages have gotten worse,” Smirnoff said.
“We used to stay in lines all the time. Now they don’t because there’s no food.”
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