SUB SHOP SUPPORT

Firehouse Subs awards grants to Salvation Army in West Chester and Darby No. 1 Fire Company

EAST WHITELAND» Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation announced it has awarded grants of over $18,000 in lifesaving equipment to two local nonprofit organizations.

The West Chester Salvation Army received a $1,500 automated external defibrillator, or AED, that will be stationed in the lobby of their center on East Market Street. Capt. Maria Corraliza said in addition to the AED, all nine members of the staff were trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation at a cost of just under $500 by Good Fellowship Ambulance.

The second organization to receive funds from the program was Darby Fire Company #1.

“We greatly appreciate the grant,” said Darby Fire Company #1 President Kevin Carry, whose company found out about grants from searching online and applied for five sets of turnout gear. “Bunker pants, boot, helmet and gloves, it cost nearly $5,000 per fire-

fighter. We applied and in less than 60 days were approved. The old gear, which is over 12 years old, no longer met NFPA standards. (National Fire Protection Association)”

Firehouse Subs, with two area locations, specializes and subs, sandwiches and salads. The East Whiteland store is located in the Lincoln Court Shopping Center; a second local location is on Edgmont Avenue in Brookhaven.

Firehouse Subs was started by two Jacksonville, Fla., area firefighters, brothers Chris and Robin Sorensen, in 1994 and there are now over 900 franchised locations.

The two founded Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation in 2005 following Hurricane Katrina, to provide funding, life-saving equipment and educational opportunities to first responders and public safety organizations. The non-profit organization has granted more than $29.5 million to first responders, including providing AEDs to Malvern police and safety equipment to East Whiteland and Brookhaven fire companies, said Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation Executive Director Robin Peters.

Firehouse Subs area representative and East Whiteland franchisee Bob Lowe said support for the foundation comes from two programs. The first encourages customers to roundup their bill to the nearest dollar with the difference going to the foundation. The second uses sales of used food containers which held pickles that are used at the restaurant. The fivegallon buckets come with a lid and are sold for $2 with the money going to the foundation.

“We thank our donors for their contributions that help us provide these lifesaving tools,” said Peters. “Our first responders are heroes, and we want to be sure they have what they need to protect their communities.”

Peters said the Foundation receives 600 requests for grants every three months and approves about 90 of those. She said guidelines for the program are available on line at http://grants.firehousesubs.com. Organizations and those applying should carefully examine the requirements. Life saving capabilities and local franchisee input is considered, Peters said.

At the Salvation Army, Corraliza said staff began looking for funding for the AED after a client suffered a medical emergency six months ago. They found out about Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation and applied on line. Corralisa said the West Chester center houses seven individual residents and serves an evening meal to 30-35 clients a day. She said the AED would be available to the public, with an alarm for protection.

PETE BANNAN — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Firehouse Subs area representative Bob Lowe, with the new AED presented to Salvation Army representatives, Capt. Maria Corraliza, Susan Scovell, special programs coordinator, and Paula Hedderick, manager of operations. The organization also received...

PETE BANNAN — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Darby firefighter Brian Johnson wears one of the five sets of donated gear, with Firehouse Subs area representative Bob Lowe, left and Darby Fire Company President Kevin Carry. Carry said the new gear would replace 12-year-old equipment that no longer...