Hooters of Joliet Donates New Purses and Essential Items to Domestic Violence Survivors
For the third year in a row the Joliet Hooters location partnered with #LovePurse to hold a new purse and toiletry drive to help local women who are victims of domestic violence. The 37 purses collected during the entire month of July at Hooters were distributed to the local nonprofit Guardian Angel Community. Several Hooters employees helped fill the purses with toiletries and handwritten inspirational notes.
Hooters of Joliet General Manager Nicole Sancen spearheaded the restaurant’s involvement in this initiative three years ago.
“Maria from Love Purse just happened to be on the news when I turned the TV on, and immediately I knew I wanted to help in some way shape or form. I contacted her the very next morning and asked how we could help. Working with women and meeting so many people day in and day out, I knew several women who were abused physically or mentally including myself in the past. Just like that we are now in our third year collecting for our community. This year we collected 37 purses and still get customers asking what they can do. It makes us feel so good that we are able to help and make even a small difference in our community,” said Hooters of Joliet General Manager Nicole Sancen. Over the past three years, Hooters has collected over 15O purses and toiletries for Love Purse and the organizations they help.
“Hooters of Joliet has been an incredible partner of #LovePurse and has collected and gifted so many beautiful purses and much needed toiletries to the women at Guardian Angels Community Center in Joliet. The kindness and compassion of this team is so indicative of who they are as a team. Nicole Sancen is an amazing leader and example of what a leader should be. We can't do this work without people like her and her team,” Love Purse Founder Maria Castro said. For more information on helping women in need, go to lovepurse.org.
#LovePurse provides purses and toiletries to local women shelters and other local nonprofits. Each purse is filled with inspiration and intention to make each woman feel loved, valued and respected. The organization believes in “Putting love on the shoulders of women in need, one #LovePurse at a time.”
HMC Hospitality Group, founders of the Hooters concept, own and operate 22 Hooters Restaurants in Tampa Bay and Chicagoland and three Hoots locations in Chicagoland. For more information about HMC Hospitality Group visit www.originalhooters.com or follow at Twitter @originalhooters, Instagram @originalhooters and Facebook facebook.com/originalhooters.