Monroe, Jones, Peach get $37,000 in equipment from Firehouse Subs
Patrons rounding up purchases at Firehouse Subs are reaping a potentially life-saving dividend in three Middle Georgia counties.
The restaurant's public safety foundation doled out more than $37,000 in grants for new safety equipment for Bolingbroke Volunteer firefighters in Monroe County, Peach County EMS and Mattie Wells Elementary School in Jones County.
Representatives of the organizations demonstrated the new equipment Thursday morning at the Firehouse Subs at 4921 Riverside Drive.
Jim Mickle, Chief Financial Officer of the Bolingbroke Fire Department, expects their $17,946 grant to pay off in a number of ways.
After battling a fire and concluding salvage operations, rolling up and storing hoses can be a painful chore.
A new power hose roller will reduce manpower, shorten cleanup time and save on insurance claims.
"We can roll the hose and actually prevent back injury by not having to bend over and do those things because it's battery operated," Mickle said. "It will drain the hose and roll it right at the same time."
The department also purchased bright colored hoses with reflective arrows to guide a firefighter out of a smoke-filled building.
Alfonzo Ford, director of Peach County EMS, showed off their new $15,761 utility terrain vehicle with stretchers. The vehicle will broaden their rescue capability and get them to victims sooner.
"We have ability to get to people in crowded events, such as homecoming events, or maybe go into the woods and maybe rescue hunters or search for people," Ford said. "This equipment is wonderful, we never thought we would even get a chance to attain a piece of equipment like this, but we're really fortunate that we did."
Mattie Wells nurse Mitzi Dipaolo has already used the school's new CPR mannequins and automated eternal defibrillator batteries to hold six training sessions for teachers and staff.
New mobile first aid stations in rolling packs purchased with the $3,380 grant will speed help to those suffering medical emergencies on campus.
"They are nicely packed so that if I'm not there, they don't need my instructions. They can just open them up and the instructions are right there," Dipaolo said of the kits that have lighted wheels in case of a power outage.
Firehouse Subs launched its public safety foundation in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Crews serving food to victims and relief workers noted the shortages of safety equipment in rural areas.
In the past decade, more than $15 million has been donated to first responders in 44 states and Puerto Rico.
More than $1.2 million has been spent in Georgia.
Morgan Collins, who owns three restaurants in Macon, says customer donations and $2 sales of recycled pickle buckets raised the money for the local grants.
"They make it all possible and we're glad to be a part of the public safety foundation," Collins said after Thursday's ceremony.
William McComb, who owns Firehouse Subs in Warner Robins and Milledgeville, said the foundation is the heart of the restaurant chain.
"What we were able to do (Thursday) was to give back to the community," McComb said. "It's a really awesome feeling to be a part of that."
To contact writer Liz Fabian, call 744-4303 and follow her on Twitter@liz_lines.
This story was originally published October 29, 2015 at 2:10 PM with the headline "Monroe, Jones, Peach get $$37,000 in equipment from Firehouse Subs ."