Hello world! Let me introduce you to Firehouse Subs

Hello everyone, and welcome to the Firehouse Subs in Orland Park blog! It is a fairly new sub shop in Orland Park, Ill., and has only been open since December 2012. But despite being less than a year old, we've already received outstanding support (and appetites!) from the community. And without that support, we would be unable to distribute our delicious sub sandwiches into the community or provide support to local fire departments.

So first, let me tell you a little bit about the history of Firehouse Subs. Every day, customers come in wanting to know if the owners, Christine and William Vanderbilt, were firefighters. The answer is no, but the franchise was started by firemen. The co-founders, Chris Sorensen & Robin Sorensen, began the chain 18 years ago. And yes, they were both firefighters. Now they have more than 600 restaurants in 35 states that serve the best sub sandwiches to be found anywhere! But the Sorensens didn’t want it to be an average sub shop. They wanted to give back to the community, which is why in 2005, they established the non-profit Public Safety Foundation. This amazing foundation provides funding, life-saving equipment, disaster assistance and educational opportunities for first responders and public safety organizations.

How does the Public Safety Foundation work? Through small donations from each order that come from donating money in canisters by registers, rounding up orders to the nearest dollar or by purchasing $2 pickle buckets. The spare change you donate may seem insignificant, but it has helped the franchise donate MILLIONS of dollars to HUNDREDS of public safety organizations. Donated resources include thermal imaging cameras, extrication tools, automated external defibrillators, stabilization tools, bunkers and turnout gear, radios, inflatable rescue boats and emergency medical equipment.