Deals & Discounts for First Responders

If you’re a first responder, such as a firefighter, police officer, or EMT, you most likely took the job because you wanted to help others. Chances are the possibility of getting discounts on products and services was the last thing on your mind.

But Americans are grateful to our first responders and essential workers. And all too often, everyday heroes like you get too little support. For instance, during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, health care workers couldn’t get enough masks and other gear to protect themselves from infection because the United States government had failed to maintain its emergency stockpiles.

That’s why some U.S. companies are taking matters into their own hands. They’re reaching out a helping hand to frontline workers, offering you exclusive discounts and other deals on a wide variety of products and services.

Who Qualifies for First-Responder Deals

Most companies that offer first-responder discounts and other perks make them available to all active emergency workers. That includes:

• Firefighters
• Police officers, including city police and state troopers
• Emergency medical services personnel, such as emergency medical technicians and paramedics
• Members of rescue squads

Some first-responder discounts also apply to 911 dispatchers. Many businesses make similar discounts available to active-duty military service members, veterans, or teachers. And some companies extend their special offers to the families of first responders and service members as well.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, some companies have expanded their first-responder deals to include all hospital staff since they face the highest risks from the disease. Other companies are offering new temporary discounts for both health care workers and first responders.

Of course, all these companies want to make sure the people registering for discounts belong to these professions and aren’t just faking it to get a deal. To prevent fraud, many of them require people shopping online to register on an identity-verification platform, such as ID.me, SheerID, or VerifyPass.

These are sites where you can enter your credentials to prove you are who you claim to be — a student, teacher, military service member, or first responder. Once you’re registered, you can use your account to verify your identity on multiple websites, just like showing your ID in a store.

Companies Offering First-Responder Deals

First responders can qualify for special offers across a wide range of categories. You can get discounts in retail stores selling everything from clothing to cars and on services such as travel, entertainment, and cellphone service. Even institutes of higher education have gotten in on the act, offering discounts to first responders seeking advanced degrees.

General Retailers

Some of the biggest companies that offer first-responder deals are general retailers — stores where it’s possible to buy nearly anything. These include:

• BJ’s Wholesale Club. In April 2020, this warehouse store announced an “appreciation hour.” Every Sunday from 8am to 9am, these workers can shop at the store without having to pay for membership.
• Costco. This chain offers a $30 gift card to all first responders who sign up for membership and verify their identity through ID.me. This deal also applies to nurses, military service members, government workers, and teachers. First responders and health care workers also get priority access to Costco stores during the COVID-19 crisis.
• Overstock. Police officers, firefighters, and health care providers like paramedics and EMTs are all entitled to a free Club O Gold membership at Overstock. It gives them a 5% discount on all purchases, free returns on select items, price matching of competitors’ stores, and other perks. To get your free membership, sign up and verify with ID.me.
• Walmart. Select Walmart stores offer a designated pickup time for online grocery purchases to people most at risk from COVID-19. Each day, the hour from 7am to 8am is reserved for first responders and other customers designated as high-risk by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Apparel and Accessories

One of the largest categories of first-responder discounts is apparel and accessories. From underwear to outerwear and from sunglasses to shoes, first-responders can find deals on everything they wear.

• Adidas. This sportswear brand offers first responders a 30% discount on all purchases in Adidas stores and at Adidas.com. At Adidas factory outlets, the discount is 20%. Medical professionals, military service members, and teachers also qualify. To get the discount, sign in and verify your identity through ID.me.
• Asics. Medical professionals, first responders, and military members can get a one-time 40% discount on all full-price products on Asics.com. To get this deal, verify your status through SheerID. You’ll receive a one-time promo code you can copy and enter during checkout.
• Calvin Klein. Designer fashions from Calvin Klein come with a 20% discount for first responders and medical professionals. The site uses ID.me for verification.
• Carhartt. This clothing retailer is known for its durable casual clothing. First responders, military members, and medical professionals can get a 25% discount at Carhartt by registering through ID.me.
• Clarks. This shoe seller offers variable discounts for first responders, military members and their families, medical professionals, and teachers. To see how much the discount is on a given product, simply select your profession at checkout on ClarksUSA.com. The site directs you to ID.me to verify your identity before granting the discount.
• Columbia. First responders, military members, and teachers can get a discount of 10% off outdoor gear and apparel from Columbia by registering at ID.me. Additionally, first responders who work in outdoor fields, such as search-and-rescue professionals, can get a discount by registering for the Columbia Professional Purchase Program.
• Dickies. Three groups of people can qualify for a 10% discount on casual wear from Dickies: first responders, military service members, and students. To get this deal, register on the website with your name, date of birth, email, job title, and workplace. The site uses SheerID for verification.
• Fanatics. If you’re a fan of a particular sports team, you can show your loyalty with clothing and gear from Fanatics. Active first responders qualify for a 15% discount on this site, as do active service members, veterans, and their immediate families. To prove your eligibility, use the ID.me widget on the website’s checkout page.
• Jockey. Both active and retired first responders are eligible for a 10% discount on underwear from Jockey. The site verifies your status through ID.me. The same discount also applies to active and retired military members, their immediate families, and students.
• Lululemon. This site sells athletic wear for women, men, and girls. It offers a 25% discount to North American military members, their dependents, and first responders, as well as health care workers in hospitals and nursing homes. To get this deal, show a valid ID at the register at any Lululemon store. The discount is not available online.
• Merrell. First responders, military members, nurses, and teachers can claim a 20% discount on performance outerwear from Merrell. Verify your identity through ID.me.
• Newton Running. Members of the U.S. military, firefighters, police officers, and their family members can get special offers on athletic shoes and clothing from Newton Running. Just sign up online and list your credentials. A dot-mil or dot-gov email address is sufficient. If you don’t have one, the store can contact you to verify your status.
• Professional Sports Leagues. Major League Baseball, the National Football League, and the National Hockey League sell fan gear and apparel directly through their websites. All three sites offer a 15% discount to current and retired first responders and military members and their immediate families. Use ID.me to verify your status.
• Puma. Sportswear brand Puma offers a 20% discount for first responders who verify their identities through ID.me. The brand also offers 20% off for nurses and 10% off for military members, teachers, and government employees.
• Ray-Ban. Regular and prescription sunglasses from Ray-Ban are 25% off for first responders, teachers, military members, and government employees. Use ID.me to claim your discount.
• Reebok. The athletic shoe brand Reebok has one of the most generous first-responder discounts. It offers 30% off select shoes and apparel for all first responders, medical and hospital workers, teachers, military personnel, and government employees. The site uses ID.me for verification.
• Roxy. Sportswear and accessories from Roxy all come with a 15% discount for first responders, military service members, and teachers. To get your discount, sign up on the site, which verifies your identity using SheerID.
• Saucony. Sportswear brand Saucony offers a 20% discount for first responders, military members, nurses, teachers, and government employees. Use ID.me to claim your discount.
• Sperry. Shoes from Sperry come with a 30% discount for first responders and medical providers with verification through ID.me. There’s a smaller discount of 15% for military members and teachers.
• Sunglass Hut. Active first responders can get a 15% discount on all online purchases at Sunglass Hut. Just sign in and verify with ID.me. The deal also applies to service members, teachers, students, and government employees. This discount doesn’t apply to certain brands, and you can’t combine it with any other promotional code.
• Under Armour. Active first responders, service members, veterans, military family members, health care workers, and teachers typically get 10% off sportswear at Under Armour. For a limited time, this discount has been raised to 20%. To claim it, select “Military and First Responder Discount” at checkout. Then, verify your identity with ID.me.
• Vera Bradley. Luggage and handbag brand Vera Bradley offers a 15% discount for first responders, military members, nurses, teachers, and students. Use ID.me for verification.
• Vineyard Vines. Vineyard Vines, a seller of upscale casual wear for adults and kids, offers a 15% discount for first responders and health care workers. The site provides details about which specific professions are eligible. To get this deal, sign in with SheerID online.

Automotive

Whether you want to buy a car or service and accessories for it, being a first responder can help you get what you need at a lower price. Companies offering automotive discounts include:

• CARiD. Police officers, firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, and search-and-rescue workers pay 10% less for car parts and accessories at CARiD. To sign up, send an email to sales@carid.com, call 800-505-3274, or start a live chat session on the website. Have your ID available so you can provide your first-responder or government ID number.
• General Motors. Through Jan. 3, 2022, GM is offering discounts to first responders on the purchase or lease of select Buick, Chevrolet, Cadillac, and GMC models. The discount applies to police, firefighters, EMTs, and 911 dispatchers. Health care professionals also qualify for discounts on Chevrolet vehicles only. To get the discount, choose the car you want online, receive an authorization number, and take it to your local dealership. GM also offers first responders discounts of up to 20% on OnStar and connected services for vehicles.
• Tirebuyer. First responders can get 10% off any purchase of tires through Tirebuyer. To get this discount, select “Verify with ID.me” at checkout.
• Volkswagen. Active U.S. first responders and military members are entitled to a $500 cash bonus toward the purchase or lease of select Volkswagen vehicles. This discount applies through Jan. 3, 2022. Contact your local dealer for details.

Education

First responders interested in pursuing a college degree or graduate degree can get discounts on tuition at colleges and universities across the U.S. Some of these are online colleges, while others are traditional campus-based institutions.

• Amridge University. Online-only Amridge University offers reduced rates on tuition to qualified police officers, sheriffs, deputies, firefighters, EMTs, and correctional officers. Their cost is $250 per undergraduate credit hour, $350 per graduate credit hour, and $450 per doctoral credit hour. They can also skip the $50 admissions fee.
• Cambridge College Global. The New England Institute of Business and Finance at Cambridge College offers associate’s, bachelor’s, and graduate degrees in financial fields, all online. It has tuition discounts for first responders, active service members, and veterans and their spouses and children. Costs vary depending on the specific program.
• Faulkner University. This private Christian liberal arts university is based in Montgomery, Alabama. Both active and retired full-time first responders can get 25% off tuition in most of its degree programs. The university requires only a letter, written on letterhead, from their department stating that they are or were employed there.
• Grantham University. Grantham University is an online-only university focused on adult learners. Its Heroes Program offers first responders and their families a special tuition rate of $250 per credit hour for both undergraduate and graduate programs. It also waives fees for textbooks, software, and technology.
• Lee University. This Christian liberal arts university has a campus in Tennessee, but its first-responder discount applies only to its online undergraduate program. Active first responders and present or former service members pay a discounted rate of $250 per credit hour. The school’s enrollment office determines which students are eligible.
• Liberty University. Liberty’s online degree programs offer a 25% tuition discount to firefighters, police officers, and paramedics. Liberty also has a tuition discount for service members, and first responders with military experience can use both to cut their tuition costs by 50% or more. To apply, submit proof of your employment or volunteer first-responder status on letterhead or a legible copy of your job ID card by fax or email.
• New York Institute of Technology. This school does not provide discounted tuition to first responders themselves. However, it offers a tuition discount of up to 50% plus waived admission fees to their children. The parents must be active, full-time first responders or certified K-12 teachers in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut.
• New York Medical College. First responders can receive a tuition discount of 40% on the advanced certificate in emergency management at New York Medical College. When they apply, they must provide a letter from their place of employment to prove they work there.
• Northwestern College. Active and retired first responders can get a 15% tuition discount on any degree or certificate program at Northwestern College in Illinois. To qualify, they must provide a copy of their employment ID or other proof of employment. The discount also applies to their spouses and children, who must show proof of the relationship.
• Saint Francis University. This Catholic university in Western Pennsylvania offers a 25% tuition discount to paid active firefighters, police, and ambulance staff. It applies to all degrees in the Adult Degree and Continuing Studies program, both campus-based and online. There’s also a 35% discount for active volunteer firefighters and EMS staff.
• Saint Louis University. At this online-only university, 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, firefighters, and EMS crew. To get the discount, you must provide a copy of your current ID or credentials and a letter from your employer. There’s a similar discount for military members.
• University of Antelope Valley. This California school offers a 20% tuition discount for military members and first responders. You qualify if you’re employed or volunteering full time in law enforcement, emergency services, fire safety, or rescue. People retired from these fields or employed in them within the past five years are also eligible.
• University of New Haven. This Connecticut university offers half-price tuition to active first responders. That includes law enforcement officers, professional or volunteer firefighters, full-time EMTs, paramedics, and social services investigators. For members of the local Allingtown Fire Department, tuition is completely free. City of West Haven employees other than police and firefighters qualify for a 50% tuition discount.
• Webster University. Based in St. Louis, Missouri, Webster has over 50 campuses across the U.S. as well as online courses. It charges currently qualified first responders the same net tuition as active-duty military students. It applies to both undergraduate and graduate programs, not counting flat-fee degree programs.

Food and Drink

Eateries of all kinds are always happy to have first responders as customers, and many of them show it with extra savings. Even convenience stores and food delivery services sometimes offer special deals for these customers.

• Cumberland Farms. At Cumberland Farms convenience stores, all first responders, military personnel, health care workers, and medical researchers can get a free hot or iced coffee each time they visit. All they have to do is state their profession at checkout. This offer also applies at other stores owned by EG Group, including Certified Oil, Fastrac, Kwik Shop, Loaf ‘N Jug, Minit Mart, Quik Stop, Tom Thumb, and Turkey Hill.
• El Pollo Loco. At El Pollo Loco, customers who “serve the community” receive a 15% discount on their order up to a maximum value of $1.50. That includes police officers, firefighters, EMTs, federal law enforcement agents, and military service members. You must request the discount before you pay and show your ID if you are not in uniform.
• Home Chef. First responders, health care workers, and teachers get 50% off their first order from this meal delivery service, up to a maximum of $60. They also get 10% off subsequent purchases. To get the discount, use ID.me to verify your profession at checkout on the Home Chef website.
• Hooters. During the COVID-19 crisis, Hooters is offering a 20% discount on all food takeout orders to first responders, health care workers, and military personnel. You must show a valid ID to get this deal.
• Krispy Kreme. Emergency personnel who show up in uniform at Krispy Kreme enjoy a 50% discount on the full retail price of up to four dozen doughnuts. First responders who are not in uniform get a more modest 10% discount if they present their ID.
• Outback Steakhouse. All military service members and first responders qualify for a 10% heroes discount off their entire check at Outback Steakhouse. You must show a valid state or federal service ID to get this deal.
• Texas de Brazil. This Brazilian steakhouse offers a 20% heroes discount to active first responders, military service members and veterans, nurses, and teachers. You must show a badge or ID to get the discount, which is valid for up to four people per table. This deal does not apply during holidays.
• Wawa. All Wawa convenience stores are offering free coffee to health care workers and first responders during the COVID-19 crisis. To get this deal, simply state your profession to the checkout clerk. ID is not required. The chain has not announced an end date for this promotion.

Health and Wellness

Since first responders guard other people’s health and safety, it’s not surprising many companies in the field of health and wellness want to thank them for their service. These businesses offer discounts on various health and wellness products and services, from gym memberships to smoking-cessation products.

• 24 Hour Fitness. At 24 Hour Fitness, first responders and active and reserve military can save $5 per month on a basic gym membership. They also pay no initiation fees. Present your official ID to sign up.
• Atkins. U.S. military service members, veterans, and first responders get a 15% discount on protein bars and shakes from Atkins. The site uses SheerID to confirm your eligibility.
• Bodybuilding.com. The online sports nutrition company Bodybuilding.com offers a 10% discount for first responders with verification from ID.me. Medical providers and military members also qualify.
• ContactsDirect. First responders, military members, government employees, and teachers enjoy a 20% discount and free shipping on all contact lens purchases from ContactsDirect. Just click on “Military, First Responders, Teachers and Government Discount” at checkout and verify your status with ID.me.
• CoolFrames. Police officers, firefighters, and EMTs can take 5% off on all eyewear purchases at CoolFrames. This deal stacks with the standard $20 discount on every $200 spent. However, certain high-end sunglasses are excluded from the promotion. The site uses ID.me for verification.
• FramesDirect.com. First responders like law enforcement and firefighters pay less for glasses on this site with an AFEyewear member account. U.S. military members and their families and government employees also qualify for the discount. To get it, create an account on the site and verify your status through SheerID.
• Gold’s Gym. Another gym offering discounts for first responders is Gold’s Gym. Active and retired military members and first responders like police officers and firefighters can access reduced enrollment fees and discounted monthly dues by verifying with ID.me.
• Halo Cigs. First responders trying to quit smoking by switching to e-cigarettes can get discounts on purchases of Halo Cigs through any participating website. The discount applies to veterans and active-duty military as well. Use ID.me to verify your identity.
• Talkspace. The Talkspace app offers a way to connect with a therapist online. During the COVID-19 pandemic, doctors, nurses, and social workers can get a 50% discount on their first month of the Unlimited Messaging Therapy Plus plan. Download the app, then provide your national provider identifier (NPI) number and state of residence for verification.
• Therabody. Devices and topical products from Therabody help people recover from muscle injuries. First responders, medical professionals, and military members can get a 20% discount on certain regularly priced merchandise from the site. Just select ID.me at checkout.
• Zenni. Police, firefighters, and EMTs receive a 10% discount on all eyewear purchases from Zenni. The site offers similar discounts for military members and health care workers. To get the discount, click the appropriate link for your profession at checkout and verify your identity through ID.me.

Home

It’s helpful to have a first responder in your neighborhood, and there are a couple of programs aimed at helping first responders afford a home. First responders can also enjoy discounts on products and services for their homes, including appliances, tools, mattresses, bedding, and cleaning supplies.

• Airbnb. Health care professionals, relief workers, and first responders can find housing closer to their jobs through Airbnb. Airbnb hosts in several U.S. and Canadian locations provide space to frontline workers free of charge through Airbnb’s Frontline Stays program. Visit the website to submit your credentials and sign up for the program.
• Brooklyn Bedding. First responders can get 25% off all orders of beds, mattresses, and bed linens plus free shipping at Brooklyn Bedding. To get the discount, show your ID at checkout in the store or verify through ID.me online.
• Budget Truck Rental. Police, firefighters, and EMTs who are moving to a new home can get discounts on a moving truck from Budget Truck Rental. The discount is 20% for local moves and 15% for one-way moves. Enter the code “SERVICE” when booking to receive a confirmation number.
• GelPro. People who spend a lot of time on their feet can benefit from a comfortable surface underfoot. That’s why GelPro offers first responders a discount on gel-infused floor mats. Law enforcement officers, firefighters, and EMTs can get this deal by filling out a form online and verifying with SheerID.
• Good Neighbor Next Door Program. Run by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Good Neighbor Next Door Program helps first responders and teachers buy homes in low-income neighborhoods. Law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMTs, and teachers of grades 12 and under qualify for savings of 50% off a home’s list price. They must agree to stay in the home year-round for at least three years. You can find listings of available homes on the HUD Home Store.
• Homes for Heroes. Homes for Heroes is a licensed real estate company specializing in helping heroes buy, sell, and refinance homes. That includes law enforcement, firefighters, EMS staff, active-duty and reserve military, veterans, health care professionals, and teachers. The company says most of its clients save at least $2,400.
• Husqvarna. Active and retired first responders can get a 10% discount on Husqvarna home and garden tools sold through local dealers. The offer also applies to military members and veterans.
• Leesa. The online mattress store Leesa offers 15% discounts for military members, first responders, medical providers, and teachers. The site uses ID.me for verification.
• Lovesac. The Heroes Discount Program gives active first responders a discount of 5% on furniture and accessories from Lovesac. Active and retired service members, their families, health care workers, and teachers also qualify. This deal is available in showrooms or online with SheerID verification.
• Purple. The online mattress seller 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 your 10%-off promo code within 20 minutes.
• Tuft & Needle. High-end mattresses from Tuft & Needle come with a 15% discount for first responders, health care workers, active military, and veterans. The website uses SheerID for verification.
• Toolbarn. The First Responder Discount Program from Toolbarn gives active-duty police officers, firefighters, and EMTs a 5% discount on eligible products. Fill out an online form to apply for the program and use the code “TBHeroes” at checkout.

Sporting Goods

No matter your favorite sport or outdoor activity, being a first responder can get you special deals on all the gear you need. Companies that offer discounts include:

• Backcountry.com. Outdoor enthusiasts can find equipment for all their favorite activities, including backpacking, camping, skiing, snowboarding, and kayaking, at Backcountry.com. The site offers a 20% discount for first responders, health care providers, military members, and teachers. Use ID.me for verification.
• Cycle Gear. Active and retired police, military, fire, and EMS personnel can get a 10% discount on motorcycle and bicycle accessories from Cycle Gear. Call customer service at 800-292-5343 to place your order.
• GoRuck. U.S. first responders, service members, public school teachers, and government workers get 15% off full-priced rucksacks and other fitness gear from GoRuck. They also receive a 25% discount on events such as races. The site uses GovX ID for verification.
• Moosejaw. Military personnel, their spouses and dependents, and first responders can verify their status with ID.me to get a 20% discount on sporting and outdoor gear from Moosejaw. There are similar discounts for teachers and health care providers.
• Tactical Gear. Products from Tactical Gear are suitable for outdoor activities like camping and hunting or for military field operations. The site offers a 10% military discount to first responders and all military personnel — active-duty, retired, or veterans — and military families. Use ID.me for verification.
• Yeti. Military members and veterans, first responders, nurses, and government officials can get discounts on select water bottles and gear from Yeti. Log in with your ID.me account to see which items qualify for special pricing.

Technology

First responders can save on a wide variety of tech-related products and services, including smartphones and accessories, cellphone plans, and audiobooks. Companies with first-responder discounts include:

• Abt Electronics. Family-owned retailer Abt Electronics offers first responders a discount of $50 off a $500 purchase, plus free shipping. The discount is also available to military members, health care workers, and teachers. The site uses ID.me for verification.
• Apple Store. All state and local government employees (including first responders) and their immediate families qualify for special pricing on Mac and iOS devices from the Apple Store. This program also applies to contractors who work for the government. For details, see the Apple website.
• AT&T. Two separate programs from AT&T offer discounted cellphone service for first responders and military members, veterans, and their families. The AT&T Unlimited Starter Plan costs them less than $27 per line per month for four phones — a discount of 25%. There are similar discounts on other unlimited plans. To sign up, you must provide valid proof of employment online or at an AT&T store. AT&T also offers FirstNet, a network exclusively for first responders and health care workers.
• Audiobooks.com. First responders, military members, teachers, and students can receive a free audiobook from Audiobooks.com when they sign up through ID.me. That’s in addition to the three free audiobooks for all new subscribers.
• Bose. First responders qualify for special discounts when they purchase more than $199 worth of audio equipment from Bose. The discount is also available to military members, health care providers, and teachers. Use ID.me to verify your identity.
• Lenovo. First responders and nurses signed up with ID.me can get a 5% discount on products from Lenovo. For U.S. and Canadian military members, the discount is 7%. The site also offers special deals for medical professionals, students, teachers, and senior citizens.
• Ring. First responders, service members, veterans, students, and teachers can get 20% off select smart doorbells and other home security products from Ring. Visit the website and sign in with VerifyPass to receive a one-time discount code.
• Samsung. First responders and health care workers receive a discount of up to 30% for online purchases of specific products from Samsung. Products that qualify for the discount include smartphones, laptops, monitors, tablets, and audio equipment.
• Sennheiser. First responders can receive discounts on Sennheiser headphones with an active ID.me account. This deal also applies to military members and families, doctors, nurses, students, teachers, and government employees.
• Tidal. First responders can sign up for the streaming music service Tidal at a discounted monthly rate. A premium subscription costs $5.99 per month ($4 off), and a top-tier HiFi plan costs $11.99 per month ($8 off). The deal applies to U.S. police, firefighters, EMTs, EMS workers, and military service members.
• T-Mobile. The cell service T-Mobile offers special plans just for first responders. They can get a four-line Magenta plan with 5GB of 4G LTE mobile hotspot data for $100 per month or a four-line Magenta Max plan with 40GB of mobile hotspot data for $140, including taxes and fees.
• Verizon Wireless. Competing cell provider Verizon also offers discounted plans to first responders. They pay $120 per month plus taxes and fees for a four-line Start Unlimited plan with autopay. Verizon uses ID.me to check eligibility.

Travel and Entertainment

Another big category for first-responder discounts is travel and entertainment. From hotels and car rentals to cruise lines and theme parks, dozens of businesses are eager to have first responders as guests and are willing to reward them with special deals.

• Beaches Resorts. Firefighters, police officers, and active members of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) receive a 10% first responder discount on top of all other promotions at Beaches Resorts. Members of the U.S. and Canadian military also qualify for this discount. Proof of employment is required at the time of booking.
• Caesars Entertainment. This chain owns hotels and casinos in Las Vegas and across the U.S., including Bally’s, Caesars, and Harrah’s. First responders can take up to 30% off the price of their stay at over 30 Caesars locations. Check the website for a list of participating hotels. To get the discount, use ID.me when booking.
• Choice Hotels. During the COVID-19 crisis, Choice Hotels is offering discounted room rates to all workers identified as essential by the Department of Homeland Security. Its Choice Cares program covers first responders, doctors, nurses, food and agriculture workers, and mass transit employees. Volunteers are also eligible for the program. Book your stay through the Choice website to request the Choice Cares rate.
• Clipper Vacations. Active and retired military members and first responders from the U.S. and Canada can take 10% off the regular adult fare for travel on two Clipper routes. The fare for children ages 11 and under is half the adult rate. Request the discounted rate when booking through Clipper’s toll-free number.
• Dave & Buster’s. This chain that combines dining with arcade games is giving out $10 game cards to all first responders and health care professionals at each of its locations within the first 30 days after it reopens. To get yours, present your ID at the front desk.
• Disney. At Walt Disney World in Florida, first responders save up to $80 off the gate price when booking through ID.me. This discount is also available for military members, teachers, nurses, and government employees.
• Great Wolf Lodge. The Great Wolf Lodge hotel chain includes 19 locations scattered across the U.S. and Canada. The chain offers a Howlin’ Heroes discount of up to 30% off for guests in law enforcement, firefighting, EMS, health care, and the military (active or retired). Use the coupon code “heroes” when booking and present your ID at check-in.
• Hotels.com. Through this website, you can book a stay at more than 140,000 properties across 60 countries, including hotels, bed-and-breakfasts, condos, and resorts. First responders, service members, teachers, students, and government employees can all take 10% off when they book with ID.me.
• Legoland. This Lego-centered theme park and resort offers first-responder discounts at its Florida location. First responders, nurses, military members, teachers, and government employees save up to 40% off the gate price. The site uses ID.me for verification.
• Marriott. Through June 30, 2021, first responders can receive a special Community Caregiver Rate at participating Marriott hotels across the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean, and Latin America. To get this discount, you must show valid identification from a medical, government, military, or relief organization at check-in. There are many Marriott family brands, including Sheraton, Westin, Courtyard, Fairfield, and Springhill Suites. Check the site for more.
• Peter Pan. First responders and active or retired military members save 15% off the full adult fare on Peter Pan buses. Be prepared to show a valid ID, including your photo and occupation, upon request.
• Royal Caribbean. Police officers and firefighters and their guests qualify for special rates on select Royal Caribbean cruises. You must present a valid badge or ID plus a second form of identification when boarding. The company also offers discounts for active and retired military members and veterans.
• Sandals. Firefighters, police officers, U.S. and Canadian military members, and FEMA workers can all take an extra 10% off at Sandals resorts in the Caribbean on top of any current promotions. To get this deal, fill out an eligibility form online and present ID at check-in. See the website for details about which forms of ID are acceptable.
• Vrbo. Some hosts on Vrbo opt to provide a discount on bookings for first responders. The discount amount and groups that qualify vary by location, so check specific listings for details.
• Wyndham. The Wyndham hotel group includes such brands as LaQuinta, Howard Johnson, and Ramada. These chains offer up to 20% off the best available rate to first responders, military members, teachers, and students who book through ID.me. Additionally, the chain’s Wyndham Rewards program members qualify for a free gold membership upgrade if they hold essential jobs during the COVID-19 crisis. That includes health care workers, delivery drivers, truck drivers, warehouse employees, construction workers, sanitation workers, and grocery store employees.

Final Word

As long as this list of discounts is, it’s far from complete. We’ve covered the most prominent and best-known companies offering discounts to first responders, but many smaller businesses provide them as well, including local restaurants.

So even if a company you do business with isn’t on this list, it may still offer a first-responder discount. To find out if it does, you can consult the company’s website, call customer service, or simply ask the clerk at checkout.

All kinds of businesses are eager to help first responders, so don’t be shy about asking if there’s a discount available. Compared to the lifesaving work you do every day, it’s not a lot to ask.