Sunday, May 4, was International Firefighters' Day, and an Okotoks business made the most of it with a fundraiser event.
Firehouse Subs hosted a touch-the-truck event, where people were invited to meet members of Okotoks Fire & Rescue, see their equipment up close and donate to the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation
"It was great that Okotoks Fire came out. They were really generous with their time and equipment," said district manager Cam Standish. "They let the families explore the truck, touch equipment, sit in the truck, that kind of awesome stuff."
It also included a prize wheel that could be spun after donating.
The event was held over the lunch hour, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and in that time, they raised $400.
The Public Safety Foundation is a charity founded by Firehouse Subs that provides grants and loans to local fire departments.
"How it works is, we as a franchisee group contact first responders, such as the Okotoks Fire Department, and they can apply for grants and loans from the Public Safety Foundation," explained Standish. "There are two intakes during the year for the Public Safety Foundation, one in the spring, one in the fall."
Okotoks Fire & Rescue received a grant last year, which funded new spreaders, also known as 'jaws of life,' in October.
Funds are raised primarily through donations from everyday customers, with transactions at Firehouse locations being rounded up to the nearest dollar.
Additionally, during the month of May, $1 from the sale of each Hook & Ladder sub will go to the foundation.