Mom-son clown duo to raise money for vets

A mother-and-son clown team is working to bring a little extra joy to the Northport VA Medical Center.

Levittown's Carol and Garrett Klein, aka Mismatch and YooHoo, will be performing this weekend at the Johnny Rockets at the Broadway Mall in Hicksville. The jesterly family will solicit donations from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday to help fund a night out for some veterans.

“It was just one of those things,” Carol Klein, 56, said. “I have always wanted to incorporate my clowning entertainment into the community.”

The family started entertaining folks at the VA in February 2009, when the Northport VA hired her and Garrett, 28, to perform at its annual winter festival.

Moved by the experience, Carol Klein founded the Our Heroes Night Out program and began asking local businesses to donate services. Previously the program has organized trips to Adventureland in Farmingdale, Milleridge Inn in Jericho and Star Playhouse in Commack.

Donations from this weekend’s performances will go toward the Disabled American Veterans Transportation Network. Find more information on Our Heroes Night Out here.