Lemont Rotary Club Offers Gift Certificates to 'Generous' Lemon Tree Customers

The Lemont Rotary Club will treat random  customers to free meals this month to thank them for supporting a recent fundraiser.

Rotary members have donated gift certificates to be randomly distributed to Lemon Tree customers each weekday from March 5 through March 30. The giveaway comes on the heels of a successful Rotary penny drive, which was generously supported by the restaurant, 1035 State St.

Each year, the Lemont Rotary Club runs a charitable collection program known as the "Lemont Rotary Penny Jars." The jars are placed at numerous local businesses so patrons in need may borrow or donate pennies.

"It has been a very successful program that continues to grow and supports the good work that Rotary does both locally and internationally," said John Schaefer, a member of the Lemont Rotary Club.

Schaefer said one of the most successful jars is located at Lemon Tree, so the group wanted to come up with a way to thank the restaurant's customers.

Gift certificates will be randomly placed in the cash drawer before the start of each shift, and will come up during transactions with unsuspecting customers.

"It's our way of saying thanks to all the generous customers of Lemont Lemon Tree and Lemont Rotary," Schaefer told Patch in an email last week.