Laughter might just be the best medicine for a local nonprofit that works to address homelessness.

A July 13 Comedy for Charity fundraiser will offer guests an evening of laughter and food, with proceeds going to support the Turlock Gospel Mission. The dinner and comedy show featuring comedian Vincent Oshana will be held in the California State University, Stanislaus Main Dining Hall.

Oshana is an Assyrian American comic who has been seen on MTV's “Yo Momma” and Showtime's sketch comedy series “The Underground.” The dinner will include a pizza buffet, with beer and wine available for purchase.

Proceeds from the event will go towards supporting the Turlock Gospel Mission, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to helping the homeless and hurting in the Turlock community.

“The Gospel Mission is in the process of trying to build their new facility,” said Anokeen Varani, organizer of the Comedy for Charity event. “There currently isn’t (a year-round) overnight homeless shelter in this area, and so we’d like to help them out as much as we can.”

As part of the Turlock Chamber of Commerce's Leadership Turlock program, Varani toured the current Turlock Gospel Mission facility – a day center on East Avenue – while learning more about the organization’s hopes for the future.

“They already have the property paid for, but it’s going to cost them quite a bit of money just to get permits paid for as well and start construction,” said Varani. “We felt like it was something that we wanted to be a part of, and every cent helps.”

Guests must be age 21 and older. Tickets start at $35 and can be purchased at The Agency, located at 527 E. Olive Ave. Ste. B in Turlock, or online at www.turlockagency.com.

The Comedy for Charity fundraiser will begin at 7 p.m. July 13 at CSU Stanislaus, located at One University Circle in Turlock.

To learn more about the Turlock Gospel Mission, visit www.turlockgospelmission.org.