Hampton Inn Duties by Day, Animal Rescue by Night

M&R Team News this month spotlights associates at the Hampton Inn Marion in Illinois, who donate their time to a local animal shelter. What do these employees have in common? While fully engaged in their hotel duties during their shifts, they also find working for the animal shelter outside of their jobs to be satisfying and enriching.

For Brittany Kennedy, general manager, and her team members, it all began with Judy Lane, a much-admired breakfast attendant with a long-standing interest in animal welfare who volunteered at the nearby Finding Furever Animal Rescue.

“When Judy passed away in 2020, we looked for a way to honor her memory,” Brittany said. “We found our way to the shelter, which encourages pet adoption in the community, and a number of us began contributing our time.”

During the pandemic, many area residents no longer could care for their pets, so demands on the shelter escalated. “We responded to this greater need by donating cat and dog food and other supplies,” said Jennie Hultz, front office manager. “Animals are so helpless. Our efforts there have been so rewarding.”