Wawa Hoagie Day: Workers make more than 25,000 turkey hoagies
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- It was a hopping, active morning Wednesday at the National Constitution Center as dozens of Wawa workers turned more than seven tons of ingredients into 25,000 turkey Shortis.
There were thousands of other people who waited in a line that snaked at least a mile around Independence Mall Wednesday morning for the 30th annual Wawa hoagie day giveaway! Some said they waited "about 2-3 hours."
If you're not from here, that may sound like an insane amount of time to wait for a sandwich, but in Philly, we know a hoagie isn't just a sandwich!
"A hoagie is Philadelphia all on a bun! A lot of people call them subs but that's when you're not from Philadelphia," said Germantown resident, Cindy Vile.
Cindy brought her 26-year-old daughter, Angela, to Hoagie Day since she was 14 years old!
"Just hanging out with my family and getting free hoagies, because why not," Angela said. "It's the culture. The way Wawa gives back to the community!"
And that's what this day is all about!
Wawa's Hoagie Day kicked off for the general public at noon with a free hoagie giveaway but more than 150 workers started much earlier at 5 a.m. putting turkey, lettuce, tomato and cheese onto Shorti rolls and wrapping them for distribution.
I think that when I’m ready for a career change I need to be a @Wawa Shorti ! Look at the costume. I love it! I’m going to ask @JanCarabeoCBS3 to pick me up a job application while she covers #HoagieDay. pic.twitter.com/3cSs9XIcmR
— Jim Donovan (@jimdonovancbs3) June 28, 2023
The first 7,000 hoagies made went to the Philabundance food bank and another 3,000 were split between the Philadelphia Police Athletic League and the Veterans Multi-Service Center.
Philabundance received 7,000 sandwiches and another 3,000 went to the Heroes Lane Hoagie Handoff.
"To support those folks that are serving our communities every day," Jim Moore, Wawa's chief marketing officer, said.
Wawa also distributed 15,000 Shortis to the public too - all you had to do was come down to the National Constitution Center and Independence Mall at Arch Street between Fifth and Sixth Streets by 12 p.m.
Early in the morning, Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce showed up via Zoom to share a special greeting with the workers.
"This isn't just our chance to have fun, but it's to give back," Moore said.
"It's so special to bring smiles to the community," Tori Deibert, a general manager said. "A simple hoagie, just one little act of kindness, giving back, makes such a huge difference and it's so nice to get together. It's family, it's friends and giving back."
This is all leading up to the July 4th holiday in Philadelphia to honor local heroes, Philadelphia police officers, firefighters, servicemen and women.