Lehans is Keeping Locally Owned Businesses Alive – $2 at a Time

Lehan Drugs to give away $1,000 to community on July 19th!

That’s right, Lehan Drugs is going to give away 500 $2 bills to the first 500 people who come into their DeKalb location during their Customer Appreciation Day on July 19th, but only if the recipient will promise to spend it at another locally owned business in the community.

Business owner and pharmacist, Tim Lehan originally wanted to try and educate his employees as well as his customers and patients about supporting locally owned businesses in DeKalb County. Last December, he ordered 2,500 $2.00 bills from his local bank, National Bank and Trust Co. He then gave each of his fifty employees $100 of the bills with specific instructions on how they had to be spent. First, the $2 bills had to be spent as cash, not deposited in an account. Second, they had to be spent at a locally owned business in DeKalb County. Finally, all of the money had to be spent within 30 days, and if anyone asked about the 2 dollar bills, they had to explain the program.

“I wanted to help my employees, help locally owned businesses and hopefully encourage other business owners and leaders in our community to support each other,” Lehan said. “We have incredible people working for us and incredible patients supporting our pharmacies in DeKalb County. It is important to differentiate between a local business and a locally owned business. A corporate owned store like Wal-Mart and Walgreens send all of their profits to their headquarters outside of our community each night. A locally owned business keeps that money in the local economy. “We live here, our kids went to school here and every dollar stays here in DeKalb County. The national companies can’t say that. If we are going to have strong cities and towns we need strong locally owned businesses.”

That is where the $2.00 bills come in. “We only receive 1 or 2 $2.00 bills a month in our pharmacies,” said Lehan. “By using these uncommon bills, we can see if our program is working. We hope other local businesses who receive them will in turn give them as change, and maybe request some of their own from their bank. We ask that the citizens of our community spend them at another locally owned business.”

Come in the Lehan Drugs’ DeKalb location from 9am-7pm on July 19th to receive your $2 bill and help keep the local business community strong! Visit Lehan Drugs website now to see all that they offer!