Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation 10-Year Anniversary

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Firehouse Subs HeroFuel

6 min readOct 1, 2015

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A group of volunteers including Firehouse Subs co-founders, Chris Sorensen and Robin Sorensen, pose for a photo in front of Fire-ONE (the Firehouse Subs bus) after Hurricane Katrina.[/caption]

By Angela Daidone

Despite no invitation, the unwanted guest Katrina showed up anyway. And what did this rude visitor bring? Devastation and heartache. No one was ready for her arrival, but that didn’t stop her from knocking down doors in Mississippi and Louisiana. She made quite the debut, and the thing we can’t stop talking about — even 10 years later — is what emerged from the catastrophe.

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Remnants of an American flag torn by Hurricane Katrina’s winds.[/caption]

Immediately following the tragic landfall of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation was born. But we all know that there couldn’t be a happy ending if there wasn’t a story to tell in the first place.

Much like the strong winds of a hurricane, the philanthropic personalities of Firehouse Subs co-founders and former firefighters, Chris Sorensen and Robin Sorensen, pack a punch. When they heard the Jacksonville, Florida fire chief was sending 100 firefighters to the area of impact to help with relief and asking for donations, they immediately joined the efforts.

Chris Sorensen and Robin Sorensen were accompanied by their father Rob Sorensen, and three others from the Firehouse Subs team — Stephen Joost, Mark Cowan and Kelly Harris. Hurricane Katrina made landfall on a Monday and by Thursday that week, the group of six were down in Mississippi with an 18-wheeler full of food and water.

Their efforts to support the firefighters quickly realigned and soon after arriving in Mississippi, they were serving survivors: hungry for food, thirsty for water, longing for relief.

“It was terrible to see, but great to be there and help,” Robin Sorensen said. “It was the most gratifying thing I have ever done and what led us to create Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation,” he further explained.

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Firehouse Subs co-founder Chris Sorensen prepares food that will be served to survivors of Hurricane Katrina. [/caption]

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Katrina survivor with donated food.[/caption]

After four days of tending to the needs of survivors in the Mississippi cities of Pearlington, Waveland, Kiln and Bay St. Louis, the showerless days of sleeping on Fire-ONE (the Firehouse Subs bus) had come to an end; although, the charitable work of the Sorensen brothers was far from over.

“On the ride home to Jacksonville, we were on I-10 and it came to us that we can do much more. That’s where the idea of the Foundation got started,” Robin said.

It was on Sept. 7, 2005, that the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation was officially established.The very first donation made by the Foundation was a used fire truck from eBay that was donated to the Fire Department in Pearlington in 2005.

Executive Director of the Foundation, Robin Peters has shared that to-date, there has been $15 million grant awards in 44 states and Puerto Rico to help improve the life-saving capabilities and the lives of local heroes and their communities. By the end of 2015, it is anticipated 275 grant awards will be made this year, which includes the May 19, 2015 Chicago donation that provided $190,000 in lifesaving equipment to Chicago first responders and surrounding areas.

“Every time you meet a firefighter, a police officer, emergency or medical personnel and they tell you what a huge difference the equipment made to their community, it humbles you. It is a joy to give back. You can have the worst day, but when you give back you feel good. You feel good about yourself and the people you are helping,” Peters said.

The Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation is the essence of a silver lining. It was the sunshine after a horrific storm and without a doubt will continue to support local heroes and their communities for many years to come.

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Hear from Taylor, whose life was saved by local heroes using equipment awarded through Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation.

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Written by Firehouse Subs