Papa Gino’s, with 84 locations across the New England region, has been partnering with community fire stations to celebrate Fire Safety Month since 1993. While the brand brought free pizza and fun items for kids to the individual fire stations in the past, they will change their approach this year, but even restrictions imposed by the pandemic can’t extinguish Papa Gino’s commitment to the cause.
Throughout October, Papa Gino’s will donate pizzas to fire departments in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Rhode Island. The donations are an extension of the Pizza My Heart program, in which Papa Gino’s seeks out community heroes and delivers them free pies as a sign of appreciation for the work they do in their communities.
Papa Gino’s will also donate kids’ firefighter hats, coloring sheets and activity sheets to community members throughout New England. The brand will put out a call-to-action on social media, asking its fans to tag firefighters, teachers, parents or someone else in the community who is educating others about fire safety, and will send them the resources. People can also email firesafety@papaginos.com to suggest recipients. The hats, coloring sheets and activity sheets will be available for a limited time, while supplies last.
“Even though a lot has changed this year, one thing that remains a constant is our commitment to raising awareness during Fire Safety Month and supporting fire departments across the communities we serve here in New England,” said Papa Gino’s CMO Deena McKinley. “We at Papa Gino’s are so grateful for the opportunity to bring these local heroes delicious pizzas and provide kids with fun and important educational resources to learn about fire safety.”
Since launching its fire safety program in October 1993, Papa Gino’s has supported more than 1,800 fire station open houses and given away more than 100,000 large pizzas and more than 1.5 million activity sheets and educational flyers. These donations usually feed the families who attend the various Fire Safety Month events, such as fire safety open houses and “touch-a-truck” tours at the stations.
