CRYSTAL LAKE – Apple-picking season won’t be here for another few months, but spectators at a couple upcoming parades might be handed a version of the fruit sweeter than anything pulled from a tree.

As a part of its ongoing teacher of the month series, Home State Bank will be stuffing plastic apples with coupons for gift cards and passing them out at the Crystal Lake Independence Day parade at 1 p.m. Sunday and the McHenry parade on July 22. At each parade, one of the apples will be filled with a coupon for a $200 Target card.

“We recognize the hardships and the current economic situation is causing in our schools, communities and really mainstream,” said Steve Slack, president and CEO of the bank. “What we hope to accomplish through this parade participation is really positive energy.”