Hooters volunteer buddies with baseballers
Jessica Nunez is used to serving up smiles where she works in Pembroke Pines, but the smiles she received during a recent Sunday outing with special-needs athletes left lasting memories.
Nunez, who is employed at the Hooters Restaurant in her home city and is a former Miami Dolphin cheerleader, was among the girls who helped out as buddy volunteers for the Sunrise Rockies of Little League Baseball’s Challenger Division.
There are similar teams in Weston and Pembroke Pines, and the Hooters Girls also plan to visit those organizations as part of their initiative to help those in need.
The former track athlete, cheerleader and dancer got much more out of the experience than she had expected.
“When we started making connections with these players it changed my heart completely and they made my Sunday,” Nunez said. “We have developed relationships with the players and they told us this is what they look forward to all week and we feel the same way.”
Nunez now looks at her daily lifestyle in a whole different way.
“This experience [with the Rockies] has taught me to be grateful for everything in my life. We’re helping people and changing lives.”
The Hooters Girls gladly gave up their Sundays to hang out and help the players. They assisted the athletes in hitting the ball and running the bases.
The Hooters restaurant chain also donated baseball uniforms to the team.
The international Challenger program is designed for any athlete with physical or mental disabilities. There are five such programs in Broward County. Along with Sunrise, Weston and Pembroke there are teams in Coral Springs and Tamarac.