PROVIDED

Fort Myers Hooters just launched their Hootie’s Lending Library initiative at the Lee Regional Cancer Center in Fort Myers. On Sept. 11, Fort Myers Hooters employees Emily Shaffer, Makenna Diogo and Lindsay Gentsch visited the hospital and filled a cart with donated books to read, word searches, coloring books, writing utensils and bookmarks. During the visit they joined several of the Cancer Center employees in bringing the cart around to the patients to select items to enjoy.

“We are honored to expand and now offer our Hootie’s Lending Library Initiative in Southwest Florida. Our employees enjoy partnering with our local hospitals year round. We created the Hootie’s Lending Library program to provide books for kids and adults to read when they are in the hospital and every month we are always adding more books to the selections. It is our priority to give back where there is a need,” said South Florida Hooters Director of Marketing Kristi Quarles.

“Each time I roll the book cart through our infusion center and explain the books are no cost and theirs to keep, patients are enriched by the generosity. Their expressions display so much gratitude. This book cart allows us to foster greater connections with our patients and meet their needs in a new way. So often, our patients have long appointment days and it is not until they get checked in they realize they forgot their own book. Many patients have stated this book cart is exactly what they needed today,” said Allison R. Selbee who is a Medical Social Worker for Lee Health Regional Cancer Center.

“As a Hooters Girl, I always strive to take care of customers inside the restaurant and make sure they have a great experience with us. Now, I make sure I take care of customers in and out of the restaurant. Giving back to my community is something I now strive for. Being able to give back to the Regional Cancer Center has been such a blessing. I hope Fort Myers Hooters brings joy to someone’s day, everyday. We care and we will continue to donate every month to help make their day a little easier. Anything helps and I am so grateful to be a part of a company that cares so much for their community,” said Emily Shaffer who works at the Fort Myers Hooters location.

Every month the restaurant donates hundreds of books to the selection at each of the partnering hospitals. Since 2022, Hootie’s Lending Library has provided over 4,200 books to the local hospitals in South Florida and now Southwest Florida.

LTP Management, a Franchisee of Hooters of America, owns and operates 16 locations in South Florida. For more information about South Florida Hooters community involvement visit HootersFlorida.com or follow at Twitter @HootersFlorida, Instagram @SouthFLHooters, TikTok @southflhooters and Facebook facebook.com/hootersflorida.

Source: Fort Myers Hooters