We can all learn a lesson from Danny Cottrell.
About a week ago he brought his $2 bill stimulus package back by giving his employees at Flomaton Medical Center Pharmacy, Brewton Medical Center Pharmacy and Cottrell's Pharmacy in East Brewton $200 each in $2 bills. His only instructions to his 30 employees were to spend the money at local stores.
Cottrell held his first $2 stimulus package program in 2009 when the nation was in a deep recession and many businesses were laying people off. He called his employees together, some probably felt they were getting a pink slip, but he handed them a wad of $2 bills. He asked them to give at least 15 percent to someone who needed it more than they did and spend the rest of the money locally.
When we talked to Cottrell last week, he said while the $200 in $2 bills wasn't a lot of money, he wanted his employees to understand the need to spend their money locally. During the COVID-19 pandemic many businesses are suffering and they need our help to survive.
In 2009 and again in 2020, Cottrell picked the $2 bills because they do stand out. We don't see them much floating around in circulation and we don't get them back in change.
Businesses receiving the $2 bills realize where they came from and they know they came from people who live in their community.
Especially now with the pandemic and shutdowns going on, it's important for us to follow Cottrell's lead and spend our money with our local businesses. They are the ones who employ local people, they are the ones who pay the taxes that help pay our police officers and firemen, pave our roads and make our county and municipalities operate.
It doesn't take a $2 bill to show your support for our local businesses. Just remember, when you shop locally you not only help your community, you also help yourself.
