What began as a way to allow kids to entertain themselves has expanded into entertainment for the community as a whole, which its participants hope will help support those in need.

Tony Brown serves as pastor of the Trinity United Methodist Church in Port Townsend, and nearly two years ago, his daughter suggested they conduct a service program after school.

The program has “never been religious in nature, just service-oriented,” said Brown. He recounted how the kids folded thousands of paper cranes in each of the program’s two years, whose recipients were Jefferson Healthcare and Victoria Place Senior Living in Port Townsend.

For this year, the kids chose a different tactic, starting the “Wacky Wednesday Theatre Group” to produce a public play whose proceeds would go to benefit a charitable cause, such as the local food bank.

“We actually started working on this last October,” said Brown, adding that the play selected was “The Absolutely Insidious and Utterly Terrifying Truth About Cat Hair,” by Bradley Walton. “The plot is that cat hair actually has a mind of its own, and is out to take over the world, so it’s a bit of a dark comedy,” Brown laughed.

In addition to being well-suited to the sensibilities of the dozen Blue Heron Middle School students who will be performing it, Brown said he appreciated the play’s relatively modest licensing fee, which allows them to raise more money for the food bank.

“Our kids are very aware of current events, so they especially wanted to help the food bank out in light of the funding cuts that such organizations are facing,” said Brown, who estimated that they’d already raised close to $1,000. “Their goal is to donate as much as $3,000 to the food bank.”

Although the play is being presented at the church, Brown reiterated that it is not religious in nature. He acknowledged he’d had to reassure some parents who were skittish about their kids taking part in the group.

“Ironically, when I told them that I’m gay and I have a husband, that seemed to put some of them more at ease,” Brown laughed. “But really, beyond the play and the charitable fundraising, this is simply about giving kids a safe place where they can feel loved and supported. The teen years can be rough, especially during middle school.”

Brown credited the group with bringing the kids and their families closer together, as well as validating who they are as people, so that they can feel comfortable with themselves.

“I’ve always told them, as they prepare for high school, that I have one rule for them, and that’s not to care about what other people think,” Brown said.

Brown added that the play will include music from the church organist, who plans to include songs from “Cats.”

What to know:

The Wacky Wednesday Theatre Group’s two performances of “The Absolutely Insidious and Utterly Terrifying Truth About Cat Hair” will start at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on June 20 at Trinity United Methodist Church, at 609 Taylor St. in Port Townsend.