October 16, 2023
Several Fort Myers Hooters employees visited Lee Regional Cancer Center in
Fort Myers on October 9. As part of the Hootie’s Lending Library Initiative
Fort Myers Hooters employees Emily Shaffer, Lindsay Gentsch and Savanney
Insixiengmay delivered additional books to restock the lending library cart.
This month’s donation consisted of 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 visit Lee Regional Cancer Center for our monthly visit.
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.
Fort Myers Hooters launched the program at Lee Regional Cancer Center last
month in September.
“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.
“Donating books to the Cancer Center every month is a rewarding event and I
am so grateful to be given this opportunity. Cancer has directly affected my
family, so bringing any type of happiness to these patients is a truly humbling
experience. Donating books is something I look forward to every month and
hope Hooters can continue to support our community in this way,” said
Lindsay Gentsch who works at Fort Myers Hooters.
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 4,800 books to the local hospitals in South Florida and now
Southwest Florida.
