Jeffrey Chrystal Catering and Phantom Fireworks are teaming up to feed active duty police and fire for the third straight year.

It's all a part of a St. Patrick's Day celebration. Active duty police officers and fire service workers from Mahoning and Trumbull Counties will be able to pick up free corned beef sandwiches from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Thursday at Jeffrey Chrystal Catering on Belmont Avenue in Youngstown.  

This newer tradition began on St. Patrick's Day 2020, days after the nation was hit with the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

"I made a ton of sandwiches for catering events that year," said Jeffrey Chrystal. "When events got canceled, I was left with all of these sandwiches. Phantom Fireworks bought them and gave them out to first responders."

Chrystal said he was one of the first employees to work for Phantom Fireworks. And he loves the idea of supporting service personnel.

"I have lots of friends who are policemen and firemen," Chrystal said.

Phantom Fireworks again is purchasing the sandwiches from Chrystal and his family's business. The catering company specializes in Irish food.

"I'm 100% Irish. A third-generation American and very proud of it," Chrystal said.

Chrystal, alongside his son and daughter, will be waking up early on Thursday so they can serve up sandwiches for first responders.

Police and fire servicepersons will need to be in uniform or have some form of identification in order to receive a sandwich.