CUMMING, Ga. — Firehouse Subs located in Cumming, Georgia was packed full of firefighters on Wednesday morning. The first responders were gathered for a grant presentation in which more than $39,000-worth of life-saving equipment was awarded to area agencies.
The money to purchase the equipment comes from the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation. Since its founding year in 2005, the non-profit organization has awarded more than $42 million across 49 states, as well as Puerto Rico and Canada, including more than $2.6 million in the state of Georgia alone.
“We collect spare change at the register. We round up the guest ticket to the nearest dollar. We also collect canister change,” explained Firehouse Subs area representative, Shawn Hooks.
The Forsyth County Fire Department received 75 flotation devices and 45 standard rescue bags to aid them in water recovery. The International Charter School of Atlanta received two AEDs, or automated external defibrillators, and the Milton Fire Department received body armor and ballistic helmets for firefighters to be administered "during hostile emergency situations.”
“The departments apply on our website and then it goes to the board of directors and we look at what the department is asking for, and we also look at their financials to see what the real needs are,” Hooks said.
She encourages customers to continue contributing, so the organization can continue helping those who help so many others.
“We need a lot more money,” Hooks said. “Currently, we are only able to fund about 10 percent of the grant requests that come in through the foundation.”
To learn more about the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation and how to contribute, CLICK HERE.
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