Girls aren’t the only ones invited to shop local Thursday.

Though it’s called “Girls Night In,” the “boys” in the family are encouraged to make some purchases, too, said Katie Nations, program director with the Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce.

The Chamber is sponsoring the online-only event Thursday from 3 to 9 p.m. as a way to generate sales for local businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This is not to replace our annual ‘Girls Night Out’ event,” she said. “This is an open event to help boost sales from our Chamber’s small business community. They will be sharing specials through the evening. Show them some love.”

Nations will post links to members’ businesses on the Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce Facebook page through the week.

To participate, shoppers should:

• Follow the event for all participating Brookhaven businesses.

• Click on the business’ link for ongoing offers, specials and discounts through the evening.

• Support your favorite business by purchasing gift cards, Easter baskets, take-out food and lots of great new spring/summer merchandise.

“We know times are tough but we can all do a little bit for our community to make a big difference right now,” Nations said.

Customers who participate can send Nations a receipt from any purchase during the event to be entered into drawing for a $100 gift card to a participating retailer or restaurant.

Angie Warren, who owns Expectations and Expectations Too on Brookway Boulevard, will offer free shipping Thursday for any purchases over $50, plus she’s throwing in a free gift as a “thank you” for the support during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“A lot of people right now are not shopping at all, or if they’re shopping, they’re shopping out of town and having it shipped in,” Warren said. “The purpose of ‘Girls Night In’ is to support the local stores, to get people in the shopping mode for Brookhaven. They’re still going to need clothes, they’re still going to need shoes. Easter is still coming, people are having babies, people are having birthdays. The purpose is to get people to shop local.”

Warren said the small businesses of Brookhaven have sponsored school programs, sports tournaments, church fundraisers, pageants and such for years.

“We buy spaghetti suppers and fish plates. We buy all those kinds of things that people are selling. It would be so good if those people could remember that and shop locally,” she said.

Nations hopes the event will keep local businesses engaged with the community while their doors have to be temporarily closed to in-store traffic.

“Thankfully we have social media, websites, cell phones,” she said. “If you are able to still support these small businesses then now is certainly the time to give back. Order gift cards. Order take-out lunches and dinner. Try to still drive the economy in every way possible.”