Equipment donation to the SFD.

Firehouse Subs made an equipment donation to the LaVergne and Smyrna fire departments.

FIREHOUSE SUBS® HEATS UP THE CITY OF LAVERGNE AND SMYRNA FIRE DEPARTMENT WITH MORE THAN $25,000 WORTH OF LIFE-SAVING TOOLS
FIREHOUSE SUBS PUBLIC SAFETY FOUNDATION COMES TO THE RESCUE WITH OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE EQUIPMENT

SMYRNA, Tenn. - Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation is awarding much needed equipment to the City of LaVergne Special Operations and the Smyrna Fire Department during a joint ceremony at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012 at the Firehouse Subs in Smyrna. Otherwise unavailable due to fire district budget constraints, the departments benefit with equipment worth more than $25,000. A Polaris Ranger including hitch, pre-runner kit, trailer and landscaping cage worth $16,814 will be awarded to The City of LaVergne Special Operations. The donated vehicle will greatly increase the city's rescue capability in response to off-road incidents and the transportation of vitctims. While the Smyrna Fire Department will benefit with five QRae II gas detectors and five Auto Rae starter kits worth $8,517. The detectors will assist the department in identifying carbon monoxide in victim's and fellow firefighter's blood stream. Since 2005, Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation has donated $228,116 to public safety entities in Tennessee.

Firehouse Subs is renowned for hearty, oversized portions and piping hot subs. The founders' 200-year firefighting heritage inspired the formation of the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, which provides funding, resources and support to public safety entities.

"We are truly serving subs and saving lives," said Mark Watson, franchisee of the Smyrna Firehouse Subs location. "Our Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation's support of our local heroes impacts us all."Each restaurant recycles leftover, five-gallon pickle buckets and sells them to guests for $2. Donation canisters on register counters explain the non-profit's mission and collect spare change, while the round up program allows guests to literally "round up" their bill to the nearest dollar.

The presentation takes place at the Firehouse Subs located at 337 Sam Ridley Parkway in Smyrna. Attendees to the event include local firefighters and their families, franchisee Mark Watson, area representative Bob Conochalla, and Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation development manager Meghan Bender.

In 2005, Firehouse Subs created the non-profit, Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, with the mission to provide funding, life-saving equipment and educational opportunities to aid first-responders. Through the non-profit 501(c)(3), Firehouse Subs has given more than $3.5 million to hometown heroes, including fire and police departments and EMS organizations.

Firehouse Subs, founded in Jacksonville, Fla., by former firefighting brothers Chris Sorensen and Robin Sorensen, is a 490-unit fast casual restaurant chain. Firehouse Subs offers oversized portions of premium hand-sliced meats, 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.
For more information on Firehouse Subs or this donation, please visit Firehousesubs.com, Facebook.com/firehousesubs or follow on Twitter at @firehousesubs.