Tomorrow, Oxonians can help out their local fire-fighting department and get a free sub sandwich in return.

As part of the H20 for Heroes event at Firehouse Subs, 1501 Jackson Ave. West, after a donation of an unopened, 24-pack of bottled water, guests will receive a medium sandwich (limit one per customer).

Chris Stephenson, an Ole Miss graduate and Oxford resident, has owned the Jackson Avenue Firehouse location for six years now and this is his fifth year participating in the event. Now, it’s become an annual tradition nationwide for the company.

“One of the pros with Firehouse is they really have this passion and commitment for raising money for first responders,” Stephenson said. “Fire departments are sort of at the lead of that for them. We made a donation to the Oxford Fire Department four years ago that was in the ballpark of $20,000. You really know that that equipment is going for a good cause. Every firefighter or first responder this time of the year needs water.”

Once all the water donations are received, Firehouse will call all of the fire stations in Oxford and ask them how much they need. The water will then be given to other first responders.

Stephenson was first drawn to the company because “(he) enjoyed the food.”

“When you start a franchise, they invite you to their corporate offices,” he explained. ‘You get to meet all the different departments. It felt like a great company to be a part of. The last department we met with was the Public Safety Foundation (a charity organized by the brand). The way they presented and their passion it was the icing on the cake that this was a good company to be with. We feel that when we take the donations or when we make a big donation to a fire department, that’s when we see all the work we’ve done.”