Making a Difference: ‘You treat people the way you would like to be treated’

Lori Kaye Lodes

Contributor

January 24, 2024

OSHKOSH — Whether he’s sneaking a free cookie into a customer’s bag, chatting with customers about what’s new in their lives or presenting grant funds to area public safety entities, Steve Ahrens’ days are filled with acts of kindness — both big and small.

Using his platform as a local business owner — Firehouse Subs in Oshkosh (1890 S. Koeller St.) — Ahrens serves up what he describes as really good sandwiches while doing good in the process.

Long dedicated to supporting his community, Ahrens said the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation — a nationwide nonprofit that provides millions in equipment and support to first responders each year — was one of the first things that attracted him to the franchise.

“I was drawn to the business first and foremost because of the food, but the foundation also drew me in,” the lifelong Fond du Lac resident said. “The foundation’s operations as a 501(c)3 are ranked highly among nonprofits, and then there’s the fact we buy new equipment for first responders they use to save people’s lives.”

Shared purpose
Ahrens said the foundation’s purpose resonated with him.

During his 38-year career as a portrait photographer, he said he often contributed funds for Operation Smile, a surgical volunteer-based nonprofit that improves the lives of individuals with cleft conditions in third-world countries.

Ahrens said one of the projects he worked on for Operation Smile was a photo series at a local Horicon Bank branch.

That, in turn, raised funds for the organization.

“The money we helped raise took care of about 23 surgeries for children,” he said.

Ahrens said his passion for volunteerism and community orientation dates back to his childhood when Jerry Lewis’ MDA Labor Day Telethons were televised.

He said his family would host a little fair in their backyard with games and other activities to raise money for the MDA.

Ahrens said supporting the community and the people in it, continues to be a passion of his today.

Firehouse Subs locations, he said, raise funds in several ways, including:

Canisters at the register into which customers can drop their spare changeAsking customers to round up their total to the next dollar at the register for the foundationPurchasing empty, clean five-gallon pickle buckets for $3 to donate to charitySelling medallions to raise funds every October during Public Safety Month

In addition to those customer-contributed efforts, Ahrens said Firehouse Subs donates a percent of every sale to its foundation — it adds up, he said.

Ahrens said since its inception, the foundation has contributed $81 million in new equipment to first responders nationwide.

Oshkosh Firehouse Subs Franchise Owner Steve Ahrens said he serves up really good sandwiches while doing good in the process. Submitted Photo

He said his franchise, specifically — which covers territory from Poy Sippi to the north down to Fond du Lac to the south — has provided $298,000 in first responder equipment.

Ahrens said the percentage of customers that round up their purchases and contribute to the foundation at his Oshkosh location is 63% — the national average is 23%.

But that’s not the only thing that distinguishes the restaurant’s generosity.

“We finished 2023 and learned we were the No. 1 fundraiser (among Firehouse Subs) restaurants in the world based on percent of sales, which we are proud of,” he said. “We thank our guests immensely as (their contributions play a part) in donating equipment in the form of (foundation) grants.”

Ahrens said he is humbled by the recognition, noting he and the team of 18 try hard to provide excellent customer service delivered with care.

“You’ve got to treat people well, whether it’s your guests or your crew — and that’s important to us,” he said. “We try to do the right thing and treat people fairly.”

Ahrens said this includes the many employees where this is their first real job.

“We want to give them a good work environment they can enjoy and try to make things fun,” he said. “We instill in them good values they can take elsewhere in their life.”

Ahrens said those are values exercised in every customer interaction — with his team striving to deliver the customer experience that’s right for each customer.

“We’ve developed relationships with a lot of our guests, and have our regulars who come in and who share what’s happening in their lives — that’s the fun part,” he said. “Not only are we providing nourishment and a good meal, but we’re also here to listen and care.”

The reason
Ahrens said the wall behind the sub shop’s register showcases a portrait of one of the examples of that caring.

The portrait, he said, was taken the day he provided sets of bunker gear (jackets and pants) to firefighters in the Town of Utica — made possible by foundation grant funds.

During the presentation, Ahrens said one of the firefighters approached him and asked him to listen to his jacket.

“(The firefighter) pulled the neck area to make that Velcro rip sound,” he said. “He said to me, my old jacket didn’t do that for six years.” To think we send our first responders out to fight fires in equipment like that stood out to me.”

Ahrens said his employees know the story behind that photo, as well as many other stories.

He said employees are introduced to many of those stories first-hand in the store because he strives to host recognition days for the grant recipients whenever possible — wherein first responders and employees assemble in the store for a presentation that includes the fire department talking about what they received and how it benefits them.

Steve Ahrens said the Oshkosh Firehouse Subs location was recognized as the No. 1 fundraiser among Firehouse Subs restaurants in the world in 2023, based on percent of sales. Submitted Photo

“That way, the (Firehouse Subs) crew gets to see exactly what their efforts to ask people to round up are going toward,” he said.

Foundation grants, Ahrens said, impact first responders throughout the area.

2023 recipients include:

$47,370 to the Town of Algoma for life-saving equipment $13,731 to the Poy Sippi Volunteer Fire Department for communication equipment $23,810 to the Town of Nekimi Fire and First Responders for 10 sets of bunker gear $28,965 to the Ripon Area Fire District for extraction tools and accessories$16,313 to the Town of Clayton Fire Rescue for 10 automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and accessories
Ahrens said not only does the foundation support first responders, but it also supports veterans.

It’s being noticed
A recent guest to the store posted on Facebook about witnessing two elderly guests with walkers enter the store and be greeted by Ahrens.

The poster said she witnessed him walk to their table to take their order and deliver their orders to them at the table as well.

Ahrens’ response: “You treat people the way you would like to be treated.”