Lakeland sub shop starts pay-it-forward campaign

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There is no such thing as a free lunch, right?

Sub Hub on Kathleen Road in North Lakeland is asking customers to pay it forward for law enforcement officers, firefighters, first responders, and active military personnel by picking up the tab. 

“I think there is a lot going on in the world right now and they deserve a lot more,” the owner of Sub Hub, John Nesheiwat told FOX 13.

Nesheiwat recently came up with an idea. A customer can buy a submarine for a first responder to show their appreciation for what they do. The customer writes their name on a bag that’s hung on a line across the deli.

The next fireman or police officer who comes in gets a free lunch.

The idea comes from something Nesheiwat went through when he was a teenager. He and his sister were working in the family’s convenience store when it was held up by two guys, one of them armed.

“Before you knew it, we had helicopters in the air, [deputies] swarming everywhere to catch the people who did it,” he remembers.

He was impressed deputies took the time to make sure he and his sister were alright.

“When we needed them, they were there,“ he said.  “We just want to​ ​​​​​​show we’re there for them.”