*This story was written as one of my weekly class assignments and published on The Corner News.
To some people, Firehouse Subs may be known for it's Hook and Ladder combination or it's "Fully Loaded" sandwiches, but to the Opelika Fire Department, Firehouse Subs means something different.
On March 1, at 3:30 p.m., Firehouse Subs in Opelika and their non-profit Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation donated $18,000 worth of life-saving equipment to the Opelika Fire Department.
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The Foundation donated five Motorola portable radios which will increase the safety of the firefighters because it will provide radio communication during fire operations.
"The radios are equipped with a 'firefighter down' button which automatically sends a distress signal direct to the 911 center," said Opelika Fire Chief Terry Adkins. "These radios will greatly increase the personal safety of the firefighters and will allow them to be in direct contact with other firefighters, the incident commander and the dispatch center."
Attendees at the event included Reed Compton, Opelika Firehouse Subs franchisee, Chris Holmes, Firehouse Subs area representative, Meghan Bender, Firehouse Subs Community program manager, Opelika Fire Chief Terry Adkins, Captain Ashley Harmon, firefighters Lieutenant Stephens, Allmond and Johnson, paramedics Brown and Smith, and nearby Firehouse Subs General Manager Ashly Shannon.
"The Foundation fills needs for different fire departments," Compton said. "We knew we had the funds available and we approached the Opelika Fire Department to see if they had any needs."
Compton explained that the funds that were raised to donate the five radios came from individual donations, pickle bucket sales and canisters placed by registers that explain the non-profit's mission and collect money for the Foundation.
"We are all about giving them tools to improve the community," said Compton. "It's all about safety and response time. You can't help but to make their jobs easier."
Chief Adkins who has been fire chief in Opelika since 1996 and with the Opelika Fire Department for 44 years is appreciative that these radios were made available at a time when the economy is tight, and said," Without the help of Firehouse Subs, we wouldn't have been able to supply our firefighters with this equipment right now."
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Firehouse Subs, founded in Jacksonville, Fla., by former firefighting brothers Chris and Robin Sorenson, is a 379-unit fast-casual restaurant chain. Firehouse Subs offers over-sized portions of premium hand-sliced meats and cheeses, steamed to make the flavors burst, then piled high with fresh produce atop a toasted sub roll. The restaurants reflect the authentic firefighter heritage, as well as the founding family's 200 years of firefighting service. In 2005, the company created The Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, Inc. to provide funding to deserving local fire departments. Since its inception, the Foundation has donated more than $1.75 million in equipment and resources. Firehouse Subs was also named "National Chain" winner of the National Restaurant Association's (NRA) Restaurant Neighbor Award for their overall dedication to community service. The 2010 plans for expansion include the Northeast, Central and Southwest regions of the U.S.
In 2005, Firehouse Subs extended their mission with the creation of the non-profit, Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation. The foundation is dedicated to improving the life-saving capabilities of emergency services in communities served by Firehouse Subs by providing funding, resources and support to deserving public safety entities. Through the non-profit 501 (c) (3), Firehouse Subs is able to give back to those hometown heroes who protect our local communities by providing funding, resources and support.
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