Former Eagle Brandon Graham joins in on the fun for Wawa Hoagie Day

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Wawa Hoagie Day is here! It's a tradition leading up to the July 4 holiday.

More than 150 Wawa employees woke up early and gathered at the National Constitution Center to transform the seven tons of ingredients into 25,000 turkey shortis.

"We're just thrilled because it's more about just than hoagies; it's about bringing friends and family and the community together, and so we at Wawa love giving back to the community," said Wawa's Mary-Rose Hannum.

Tori Deibert works at the Moorestown store. This is her fifth year taking part in this build.

"The environment is awesome. Everybody is so excited. It's loud, we're dancing, we're smiling, everybody is just so happy to be together," Deibert said.

More than 5,900 pounds of turkey, 1,700 pounds of provolone, and 2,800 pounds of shorti rolls were expertly assembled.

Of those hoagies, 15,000 were being distributed at noon and 10,000 were donated to community organizations, including Philabundance.

"What's special about this, is that there's nothing fun or positive about food insecurity, and the numbers are going in the wrong direction in our neighborhoods, but on this day, the people who are food insecure get to have access, the dignity of having a hoagie like all of us would have. It's one of the things that's important to us at Philabundance," Loree Jones Brown, CEO of Philabundance.

Two-time Super Bowl champion Brandon Graham surprised employees, accepting a $10,000 check from Wawa to the Eagles Autism Foundation for sensory friendly programs. Then, the newly retired Philadelphia Eagle washed his hands, grabbed his gloves and got in the assembly line.

"This is their Super Bowl so I understand it was going to be loud, crazy, couldn't wait," Graham said as he layered the ingredients.

The hoagies will be handed out at noon on Arch between 5th and 6th.

There's free admission to the National Constitution Center on Thursday until 5 p.m.