Last Updated on September 18, 2024 by Luke Feldbrugge
Companies like to give first responder discounts for the same reason Homes for Heroes gives money saving Hero Rewards to first responders: it feels good to give something back to the folks who give so much to our communities. There are a lot of discounts out there, but there are also a lot of firefighting, EMS, rescue and police (including 911 operators, state troopers, and correctional officers) units. It makes sense that this is a long list.
Thanking first responders out there on the front lines on their national days of recognition is great, but these first responder deals are around all year, so they are all ready to thank our heroes constantly.
Many of the following discounts require verification from services such as ID.me, so it’s worth taking a minute to register on their site where you can do it once and be done with it.
We wanted to find the best first responder discounts, and then we organized this list based on necessities versus luxuries.
First Responder Discounts for the Home
Homes for Heroes
We think we have the best first responder home buying assistance available because there is no fine print or special criteria to qualify. All first responders, past or present, volunteer, part-time, or full time qualify for the savings Homes for Heroes provides. We help you if you are buying a home, selling your home, buying and selling your home, or refinancing your home.
Our local real estate and mortgage lenders available in all 50 states specifically joined Homes for Heroes to serve first responders and other heroes in their community, with the intent to give back and save you money when you close on a home or mortgage with them.
When you sign up to speak with a Homes for Heroes real estate agent or mortgage lender, you can save an average of $3,000 when buying or selling your home. There are no fees and no extra work.
Good Neighbor Next Door
Another housing program for first responders is the Good Neighbor Next Door Program from HUD. These homes are in revitalization areas where the houses have been foreclosed on, but they do offer 50% off the cost of the home for eligible first responders.
Home Related Items
(Editor–Ok, this next section isn’t exactly homes, but you will need some of these things if you buy a home)
Brooklyn Bedding gives a first responders discount of 25% off all orders of beds, mattresses, and bed linens plus free shipping.
Budget Truck Rental gives police, firefighters, and EMTs discounts on moving trucks – 20% for local moves and 15% for one-way moves. Use the code “SERVICE” when booking a truck.
Husqvarna gives first responders (active and retired) a 10% discount on home and garden tools, available through local dealers.
Leesa is an online mattress store that offers 15% discount for first responders, healthcare professionals, teachers, and military members.
Lovesac has a Heroes Discount Program that gives active 1st responder discounts of 5% on furniture and accessories.
Purple offers a 10% discount on any order for law enforcement, EMTs, paramedics, and firefighters. Fill out a form online to show your eligibility and receive a discount on mattresses, beds, pillows, etc.
Tuft & Needle provides a 15% discount on mattresses for first responders, healthcare workers, active military, and veterans.
Food Discounts and Deals for First Responders
Firehouse Subs has strong ties to the first responder community. If you are a police officer, EMT or firefighter (of course), you can receive a free drink with the purchase of a meal. They also donate a portion of each sale to the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, which provides lifesaving equipment to first responders.
Texas de Brazil has 15% discounts for first responders.
Blue Apron gives first responders $110 off the first 5 boxes of meal kits.
Chevys and other XRG restaurants provide a 20% discount off meals for first responders. Their other restaurants include El Torito, El Torito Grill, Las Brisas, Acapulco, Who Song & Larry’s, Sol and Solita.
America’s Dog and Burger offers 50% off to all first responders on the first Monday of the Month
El Pollo Loco offers a 15% discount to first responders on their order up to a maximum value of $1.50. Please request the discount before you pay and show your ID if you are not in uniform.
Home Chef gives first responders 50% off their first order from their meal delivery service (up to a maximum of $60).
Krispy Kreme offers a 50% discount on the full retail price of up to four dozen doughnuts to emergency responders who show up in uniform (please no cops-and-doughnuts jokes).
Outback Steakhouse has a 10% discount off the entire check for first responders.
Bully Stick provides a 15% off sitewide deal for first responders to treat their beloved fur babies!
First Responder Deals on Clothing
Under Armour gives a 20% discount for first responders on all online products.
Oakley Standard Issue is one of their brands that is exclusive to first responders. It offers 50% off this specific brand to first responders.
Nike gives a 10% discount for first responders.
Saucony offers a 20% discount to first responders.
Tactical Distributors has a 10% discount for online purchases if you are a first responder. They have over 70 brands under their umbrella.
Saddleback Leather provides a 10% discount to first responders on their leather bags and backpacks.
Reebok has a discount of 50% for first responders.
Brides Across America has given away 26,000 wedding dresses (so far) to first responder brides.
NFL Shop gives a 15% discount to first responders, their spouses and their immediate family members. So does
MLB Shop, NBA Store and NHL Shop
Moosejaw (backpacks and outdoor gear) provides a 20% discount to first responders.
Adidas is giving a 30% discount on all purchases for first responders. At the factory outlets, the discount is 20%.
Asics has a one-time 40% special discount on all full-price activewear at Asics.com.
Calvin Klein offers a 20% discount for first responders and medical professionals.
Carhartt gives first responders a 25% discount on their durable casual clothing.
Columbia provides first responders with a discount of 10% off outdoor gear and apparel. First responders who work in outdoor fields, such as search-and-rescue professionals, can also get a discount by registering for the Columbia Professional Purchase Program.
Dickies will give first responders a 10% discount on casual wear.
Fanatics provides active first responders with a 15% discount on their team-branded sports clothing.
Jockey gives both active and retired first responders a 10% discount on underwear.
Lululemon offers a 25% discount to first responders. To get this deal, show a valid ID at the register at any Lululemon store. The discount is not available online.
Merrell provides first responders with a 20% discount on performance outerwear from Merrell.
Puma offers a 20% discount for first responders.
Ray-Ban provides regular and prescription sunglasses at 25% off for first responders.
Reebok offers 30% off select shoes and apparel for all first responders.
Roxy has a 15% discount on sportswear and accessories for first responders.
Saucony provides a 20% discount for first responders on their sportswear and activewear.
Sperry gives a 30% discount on their shoes for first responders.
Sunglass Hut has a 15% discount on all online purchases for active first responders.
Vineyard Vines provides a 15% discount on casual wear for first responders and medical staff and health care workers.
Cars and Automotive Deals for First Responders
CaRiD gives a 10% discount to first responders on all auto parts ordered online.
General Motors offers savings, from $500 to $1,000, to first responders on GMC vehicles.
Vivid Racing offers special savings for first responders on their racing accessories. You will need to fill out their form to find out the special pricing you are eligible for.
DualLiner gives $10 off any bed liner order for first responders.
Ram Trucks honors first responders with a $500 discount on select vehicles.
Volkswagen provides a $500 bonus to first responders on purchases or leasing.
Ford gives first responders $500 Appreciation Cash on purchases or leasing for eligible participants.
Perrin Performance has special deals for first responders on their car accessories. Send them your email address and they will send you a discount.
College and University Education Deals
Amridge University offers reduced tuition to qualified law enforcement personnel, firefighters, EMTs, and correctional officers for their online learning. Reduced tuition rates are:
- $250 per undergraduate credit hour
- $350 per graduate credit hour
- $450 per doctoral credit hour
The university also waives the $50 admissions fee.
Faulkner University offers a 25% off tuition on most of its degree programs. Both active and retired full-time first responders are eligible. The university is located in Alabama.
Grantham University has a Heroes Program for its online-only university. First responders and their families are eligible. The special tuition rate is $250 per credit hour for both undergraduate and graduate programs. It also waives fees for textbooks, software, and technology.
Lee University has a first responder discount for its online undergraduate program. Active first-responders pay a discounted rate of $250 per credit hour.
New York Institute of Technology has a tuition discount of up to 50% plus waived admission fees for the children of first responders.
New York Medical College gives first responders a tuition discount of 40% on the advanced certificate in emergency management.
Northwestern College has a 15% tuition discount for active and retired first responders on any degree or certificate program.
Saint Francis University provides a 25% tuition discount to active police, firefighters, and ambulance staff. There’s also a 35% discount for active volunteer firefighters and EMS workers. It includes all degrees in the Adult Degree and Continuing Studies program, both campus-based and online.
Saint Louis University is an online-only university where active first responders pay a reduced rate of $295 per credit hour toward a bachelor’s degree or certificate. This rate applies to full-time, part-time, and volunteer law enforcement (including federal law enforcement officers), firefighters, and EMS crews.
University of Antelope Valley provides a 20% tuition discount for first responders. It includes those employed or volunteering full time in: law enforcement, emergency personnel, fire safety, or rescue. It also includes retired or former first responders.
University of New Haven has exclusive offers of half-price tuition to active first responders. The university is located in Connecticut.
Health and Fitness Discounts for First Responders
Pure Formulas has 10% off its vitamins and nutrition for first responders.
Wilson provides a 15% discount to first responders and their families.
Tough Mudder offers 25% discounts to their events for first responders.
Adidas gives 30% discounts for online purchases and 20% off for outlet purchases. All first responder personnel are eligible.
Qardio has 20% off their health monitoring devices for first responders.
PXG actually created a line of golf equipment called PXG for Heroes with special prices for first responders.
Spartan Race has 25% 1st responder discounts on their race registration for first responders.
24 Hour Fitness helps first responders save $5 per month on a basic gym membership. They also pay no initiation fees.
Gold’s Gym provides reduced enrollment fees and discounted monthly dues to first responders.
Therabody gives a 20% discount to first responders on devices and topical products that help people recover from muscle injuries.
Technology
Abt Electronics gives discounts between $50 and $500 to first responders.
AT&T offers cell phone service at 25% off specifically for first responders.
Bose gives first responders special discounts if you purchase more than $199 in audio equipment.
Ring has 20% off their smart doorbells and home security products for first responders.
Samsung offers 30% off a wide array of products if you are a first responder. Products include smartphones, laptops, tablets and audio equipment.
T-Mobile gives first responders discounts on their cell service. You can get a four-line Magenta plan for $100 a month.
Verizon Wireless offers cell phone plans for first responders as well. That plan is $120 per month for a four-line Start Unlimited plan.
Travel Deals and Discounts
Caesars Entertainment allows first responders to take up to 30% off the price of their stay at over 30 Caesars locations. This chain owns hotels and casinos in Las Vegas and across the U.S., including Bally’s, Caesars, and Harrah’s.
Clipper Vacations provides first responders from the United States and Canada with 10% off the regular adult fare for travel on two Clipper ferry routes.
Walt Disney World in Florida gives first responders up to $80 off the gate price.
Great Wolf Lodge offers a Howlin’ Heroes discount of up to 30% off for guests in law enforcement, firefighting and EMS. Use the discount code “heroes” when booking.
Hotels.com allows first responders to take 10% off. You can book a stay at more than 140,000 properties across 60 countries, including hotels, bed-and-breakfasts, condos, and resorts.
Legoland is a Lego-centered theme park and resort that offers first-responder discounts at its Florida location–up to 40% off the gate price.
Royal Caribbean gives police officers, firefighters and EMS professionals (and their guests) special rates on select Royal Caribbean cruises.
The Wyndham Hotel Group gives up to 20% off the best available rate to first responders. Wyndham includes such brands as LaQuinta, Howard Johnson, and Ramada.
There are a lot of exclusive discounts out there for first responders, but they all have one thing in common: the sincere desire to thank you, the first responder, for your service to our communities.
Save with Homes for Heroes When it is Time to Buy or Sell a Home, $3,000 Average Savings for First Responders
Homes for Heroes joins with all of these companies and organizations in order to express our thanks. Be sure to check out what we do to help first responder members of fire/rescue service, emergency medical services, and law enforcement save an average of $3,000 when you buy and/or sell a home, or refinance a mortgage with our local real estate and mortgage specialists.
I’d like to offer a discount for our veterans and first responders. We are a small company in North GA/SE Tennessee that manages vacation rental cabins. Do you have anything where we could post a discount for anyone visiting our area?
Hi Bryan, for local businesses we provide our Friends of Heroes program, where local businesses provide a deal or discount to their local hero groups that Homes for Heroes serves. Please note there is a cost to add your business to our site. Take a look to determine if it’s right for your business.