WILMINGTON — Has someone ever paid for your meal in the drive-through? The idea of paying it forward isn’t new, but Peoples Bank has taken it to the next level with its Peoples “Pay it Forward” Fridays initiative.

On select Fridays in July, bank associates used the element of surprise and randomly selected individuals in the community and presented them with the gift of free gas, groceries, meals, oil changes and more.

“It was a touching experience for everyone involved,” said Ed Reilly, Peoples Bank Executive Vice President and Regional President. “As a company, we set aside funds to give back to the communities we are part of each year. Donations range from supporting a variety of needs – such as the Wilmington High School Alumni Field renovation, a Habitat for Humanity build, the Clermont Senior Services Education Series, or area youth sports teams. The Peoples ‘Pay it Forward’ Fridays evolved into a very unique and personal way to show our community we care and are committed not just on a corporate level, but an individual level.”

The bank sponsored three Pay It Forward Fridays: July 17 (Brown and Clermont counties), July 24 (Clinton and Highland Counties), and July 31 (Warren and Montgomery counties).

“We want our actions to cause a ripple effect. We hope individuals who were impacted will turn around and pay it forward in some way to someone else in the community,” Reilly said.

A short video highlighting the reaction of people as the bank picks up their tab has been posted to the bank’s YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/PeoplesBankTV).