PEOPLEWATCH

Care Packages: Yakov Smirnoff, the Soviet-born comedian who built his career on jokes about his homeland, doesn’t think the Soviet Union’s current food shortage is a laughing matter. Smirnoff lent his support to relief efforts Thursday by assembling the first CARE package to be sent from the United States to the Soviet Union. Smirnoff loaded cans of tuna fish, chicken, soap and other necessities into a CARE box. “The Soviet people are inspired by the freedoms they are getting, but unfortunately, the food shortages have gotten worse,” Smirnoff said.