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It’s pretty much impossible to thank our first responders enough for everything they do to keep us safe, but a bunch of perks and freebies from retailers and food holiday type restaurant deals on National First Responders Day, which will be celebrated October 28, 2023, is a good start!
And even if it’s not National First Responders Day, there are still plenty of year-round offers that only firefighters, police officers, paramedics, and emergency medical technicians can access.
We found several National First Responders Day freebies and discounts we anticipate will be available in 2023, based on the offerings in 2022. In order to get these freebies and deals, you’re going to need to provide your ID — either in person or by verifying online. Although we don’t have all the details for this year’s National First Responders Day, we’ll update this post as the deals drop.
Not a first responder? We’ve got lists of freebies and deals with lots of profession-related holidays, like National Nurses Day and National Teacher Appreciation Day, so no worries; there are plenty of freebies you can get.
National First Responders Day is October 28, 2023
National First Responders Day is on Oct. 28 — and that’s not just another made-up holiday, people. In 2019, the U.S. Senate passed a resolution officially designating every Oct. 28 as the day to honor first responders. This year National First Responders Day is on Friday, Oct. 28, 2023.
Related: Looking for Veterans Day deals instead? We know every deal you’ll need to know before Veterans Day.
National First Responders Day Food Freebies
There’s nothing better than saying “thank you” with a free or discounted meal, and several restaurants offered deals in 2022. Here are restaurant that had National First Responders Day deals last year:
- Applebee’s: First responders got 15% off their meal and free mozzarella sticks (reg. $9.99) or a brownie bite (reg. $2.49) when they showed their ID from Oct. 24 – 28, 2022. Offer was available for in-restaurant use only.
- Firehouse Subs: On Oct. 28, firefighters, police, EMTs, and paramedics in uniform received a free sub with any purchase. Plus, first responders in uniform get a free medium drink (reg. $1.89) with the purchase of any meal, anytime.
- Hooters: First responders could get ten free boneless wings (reg. $8.99) with any ten wing purchase (reg. $9.79) on National First Responders Day. You had to show your ID. Offer was valid for in-restaurant orders.
- Insomnia Cookies: First responders got a free 6-pack of cookies (reg. $10.60) with a $5 purchase on Oct. 28 when you showed your ID. Offer was only available for in-restaurant ordering.
- Krispy Kreme: First responders received a free doughnut (reg. $1.69) and hot or iced coffee (reg. $2.49) when they showed their ID on National First Responders Day 2022. Offer was valid for in-restaurant orders.
- Macaroni Grill: On Oct. 28, 2022, first responders who showed their ID got a free order of Mom’s Ricotta Meatballs & Spaghetti (reg. $15.50). Offer was valid for in-restaurant orders.
Other National First Responders Day Deals
We’ve found a few more National First Responders Day discounts that aren’t food freebies.
- DiamondBack Covers: Throughout the month of October in 2022, first responders could get 10% off truck bed covers and more at DiamondBack. You had to verify your eligibility on their website.
- Interior Define: First responders could receive 25% off any custom furniture order from Oct. 28 – 31, 2022.
Year-Round First Responders Day Apparel Discounts
Many apparel stores give discounts to first responders on National First Responders Day and beyond. Here’s our list of every apparel store offering discounts every day:
- Ariat International: First responders can enjoy 10% off on ariat.com after verifying eligibility on their site.
- Asics: You’ll get 40% off your first purchase on the Asics website when you verify on their site.
- Billabong: First responders receive a 30% discount off shoes and other Billabong apparel after verifying with SheerID.
- Boden: First responders can enjoy 20% off their entire purchase plus free shipping on orders over $49 when they verify their ID on SheerID.
- Deckers: First responders can enjoy 10% off full-priced styles from Ugg.
- DC Shoes: All first responders receive a 30% discount off DC Shoes online store. You must verify your status with SheerID.
- Havaianas: First responders can enjoy 20% off flip-flops, charms, and other accessories at Havaianas.com.
- J.Crew: First responders can enjoy 15% off purchases at jcrew.com when they verify online on their site. This discount can be redeemed four times a month.
- Levi Strauss & Co.: First responders can enjoy a 15% discount on all Levi’s apparel when they verify their ID on their site.
- NFL Shop: Get 15% off your orders on the NFL shop when you verify your ID on ID.me.
- Quicksilver: First responders receive a 30% discount off apparel at Quicksilver when you verify your ID with SheerID.
- Rothy’s: First responders, including firefighters, EMTs, and police officers, can enjoy 20% off one pair of shoes annually.
- Roxy: When you verify your ID with SheerID, first responders can receive a 30% discount off apparel at ROXY.
- RVCA: First responders receive a 30% discount off apparel and more at RVCA.
- Under Armour: When you verify your ID on ID.me, you’ll get 20% off all your purchases at Under Armour.
- Vivaia: First responders can visit vivaia.com to enjoy a 20% off discount when you verify your ID on their site.
Year-Round First Responders Discounts
From beach vacations to channel subscriptions, there are plenty of first responder discounts available (even when it isn’t National First Responders Day). Here are our favorite discounts you can get with your ID:
- Atkins Nutritionals: First responders can enjoy 15% off Bars & Shakes at Shop.Atkins.com every day. You must verify online before purchasing.
- Aveda: First responders get 20% off their purchase when you verify your ID with SheerID.
- CheapCarribean.com: Get $150 off a beach vacation with their Rescue2Relax deal when you verify your ID on their site.
- Fox Nation: First responders (police officers, firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics) can enjoy a free 1-year subscription (reg. $64.99) to FOX Nation.
- Huel: First responders can enjoy 10% off on all purchases of Huel’s meal replacement drinks.
- Lixil: First responders can enjoy sitewide savings of up to 65% off and free shipping from Lixil’s Insider store on all kitchen and bath products from Lixil brands.
- Molekule: First responders can enjoy 20% off air purifiers when they verify their ID on their website.
- Oui the People: First responders can enjoy 20% off their entire purchase, excluding gift cards or blade refills from Oui the People after verifying their status on their site.
- P.volve: First responders can enjoy 30% off equipment and digital memberships from P.volve, a low-impact, results-driven fitness method, to help responders take care of their health, too.
- Spec Op Tools: First responders can enjoy 15% off any of their tools when they verify their ID on their site.
- Too Faced Cosmetics: First responders can take 20% off their order when they verify their ID with SheerID.
- Tortuga: Get 20% off the brand’s travel products as a first responder (law enforcement officers, paramedics, EMTs, and firefighters). They ask that you contact them for an exclusive coupon code. Include verification by using your official email account or including ID or other documentation. There is a cap of $1,000 in discounts.
- Tuft & Needle: Mattresses for law enforcement, paramedics, EMTs, and firefighters will be 15% off your purchase.
- Whirlpool: All major appliances, including KitchenAid and Maytag, are 25% off MSRP sitewide when you verify your ID with SheerID.
