If you've been to the Chick-Fil-A in Valrico, you've probably been called "sweetie," gotten a warm welcome and maybe even a hug, all from Ms. Mae.
“Hi sweetie, how ya’ll doing today?” she said to dozens of people.
“Everyday we go through something in our life and nobody knows what another person is going through, so I like to pray for people and show everybody love," Ms. Mae said.
That's how she's been for years working here. But in the last year-and-a-half, prayers are going to Ms. Mae.
Her colon cancer came back for a second time, all of her money is going toward medical bills and now she could lose her house. But Ms. Mae is still working hard and caring for everyone else.
“A warm friendly grandma who’s always here, always there for everybody else," Jake Jones, director of the Chick-Fil-A Valrico, said.
This Chick-Fil-A restaurant is raising money for Ms. Mae. They're already up to about $3,000. She's a staple here.
“We have many guests who come here specifically to go to Ms. Mae’s register even if our store is really busy and other registers are open they’ll wait in line just to see Ms. Mae," Jones said.
Ms. Mae said just doing her job, is what keeps her feeling good.
“People will come in sometimes just to give me a hug,” she said.
Chick-Fil-A said they'll keep fundraising for Ms. Mae online. She said the hugs help her feel good as well.
