Chicago area Hooters locations collect 72 new purses to help local women

Hooters partnered with Love Purse for donation drives at all 11 Chicago area Hooters locations. Seventy-two new purses plus essential hygiene items were collected at the restaurants. All donations benefit Metropolitan Family Services and WINGS Program, Inc. to support women in need and survivors of domestic violence.

Managers from the Hooters locations in Joliet, Aurora, Wells Street, Oak Lawn, Downers Grove, O’Hare, Schaumburg, Hoots Cicero came together on March 30 at the Downers Grove location to fill the purses along with several Hooter Girls.

Maria Castro, founder of Love Purse and representatives from the benefiting organizations Metropolitan Family Services and WINGS Program, Inc joined the group of 16 Hooters employees. Each purse also includes a handwritten inspirational note.

“It truly was an amazing day, for everyone to come together from our Chicagoland Hooters locations to help women in our community. Purses can sometimes hold our most precious items, and we want to continue to help local women feel special and loved,” said HMC Chief Marketing Officer Denise Williams.

Hooters efforts to assist Love Purse were first spearheaded in 2022 by Joliet Hooters General Manager Nicole Sancen. Sancen collected 37 purses filled with items at Joliet Hooters and delivered them to organizations who helped victims of domestic abuse. Five years later the program has grown, and now all Chicagoland Hooters locations are part of the efforts in helping in honor of Women’s History Month.

“I am always trying to see where in the community my store can help locally. When I heard Maria Castro, the founder of Love Purse speaking about local organizations needing our help, I reached out to see if there was anything we could do. I love that now all the Chicagoland Hooters locations can help the women and children in need,” said Hooters of Joliet General Manager Nicole Sancen.

“Hooters has been a #LovePurse partner from the beginning. The blessings, hope and dignity they help to provide for women in need can never be measured. We are so very grateful for the continued love and support for our mission. They are a true and invested community partner,” said Maria Castro, founder of Love Purse.

“Each Love Purse filled with essentials and a note of inspiration will not only put a smile on the face of every woman who receives one, but remind her that she is special and worthy — during this chapter of her life that will ultimately lead her on a path toward living the independent joy-filled life she so very much deserves,” said Tracey Mayer from WINGS.

“Metropolitan Family Services is grateful to Hooters for their commitment to supporting domestic violence survivors through a meaningful Love Purse donation. This generosity helps place ‘Love on the Shoulders’ of women engaged in programming at our North, Howard and Evanston centers, as well as those served through the Family Shelter Services of MFSD,” said Julia Forte from Metropolitan Family Services.

Love Purse believes in “Putting love on the shoulders of women in need, one #LovePurse at a time.” For more information about Love Purse, visit lovepurse.org.

About HMC Hospitality Group

HMC Hospitality Group, founders of the Original Hooters concept, own and operate over 75 Hooters locations in Florida (Tampa Bay, Central Florida, and Jacksonville to Palm Bay), Chicagoland, Texas, Northern Indiana, and Georgia and two Hoots locations in Chicagoland. For over 40 years, the Original Hooters group has been known for its World Famous Chicken Wings, electric atmosphere, and legendary service from its proud and iconic Hooters Girls. As Hooters undergoes a strategic transformation, the brand is returning to the core principles that defined its early success — neighborhood hospitality, fresh and craveable food, and a one-of-a-kind dining experience.

Original Hooters, along with their partners from Hoot Owl Restaurants LLC, will now operate the majority of domestic locations across the US. For more information about Hooters please visit www.originalhooters.com or follow them at Instagram @originalhooters and facebook.com/originalhooters.