“Warm Up with Opera Grand Rapids” until Dec. 17

By: Brittney Schering

Opera Grand Rapids is collecting warm winter coats and business clothing at the Betty Van Andel Opera Center from now until Dec. 17. For each item that is dropped off, members of the community will receive a coupon for the Company’s February production of Puccini’s Manon Lescaut.

The clothing drive, “Warm Up with Opera Grand Rapids,” is a community wide coat and clothing drive to benefit the clothing pantries of the ICCF Family Homeless Shelter and the Women’s Resource Center.

To encourage donations, Opera Grand Rapids will hand out coupons for up to 50 percent off tickets to its February production at DeVos Hall. The discount coupons will range from 10 to 50 percent off, and are valid until January 11. Anyone who donates clean clothing that is in good condition will receive a coupon. The more items donated, the deeper the discount will be for the show.

The clothing collection drive will run until Dec. 17 at the Betty Van Andel Opera Center, located at 1320 East Fulton. Donations will be accepted from 8 a.m. to 6p.m. on Mondays and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday through Friday.

Volunteers are invited to visit the Opera Center between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 20 to help sort and deliver the donations. For more information, please visit www.operagr.com.