Honor Sanctuary Donors Receive $10 Van Wezel Hall Discount Voucher

The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall is partnering with Honor Sanctuary, Sarasota, to provide pet food and other necessary supplies for dogs and cats in need of "finding a home". Serving Sarasota and Manatee counties, Honor Sanctuary (www.honorsanctuary.org) is a no-kill facility that provides adoptions and foster homes, low cost and free spaying and neutering, and education for all animal owners and the community. Its mission is to "assure compassionate and humane treatment of all animals in the community, to help animals and owners in need of assistance, and to speak for animals with love, compassion and justice."

Donations of dog and cat food, pet toys and other items are being collected in bins at four Sarasota locations: Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall (777 No. Tamiami Trail), Honor Sanctuary (Nate's Place, 8459 Cooper Creek Blvd in the Cooper Creek Shopping Center), Petco (3800 S Tamiami Trail) and ABC-7 WWSB (1477 10th St.). Suggested items include cat food, dog food, cat toys, clay cat litter, Petco gift cards, paper towels and bleach.

Donors will receive a $10 discount voucher that may be redeemed toward tickets in select seating, except the golden circle section to the national tour of The Wizard of Oz at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. The musical is scheduled for three performances: Saturday, Apr. 25 (2 p.m. and 8 p.m.) and Sunday, Apr. 26 (2 p.m.). Regular ticket prices are $45-$70. Tickets may be purchased at the Van Wezel Box Office, by calling (941) 953-3368 or by logging onto www.vanwezel.org.

"The Wizard of Oz has a timeless message, that no matter who you are or where you are, there's no place like home," says Van Wezel Executive Director Mary Bensel. "Honor Sanctuary is an organization that provides a safe haven for a segment of the population that is often overlooked - our pets," she said. "Even if we're not able to adopt a pet directly, we can still show we care for these animals and support the families who give them shelter and love."