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Wilson’s 2nd Chicago gas giveaway goes smoother, says 3rd a possibility
Flocks of people are heading to select stations across Chicagoland Thursday, as businessman Dr. Willie Wilson is back at it again, donating a total of $1 million in free gas for those struggling to afford the high prices in both Chicago and suburban Cook County.
CHICAGO - Flocks of people are heading to select stations across Chicagoland Thursday, as businessman Dr. Willie Wilson is back at it again, donating a total of $1 million in free gas for those struggling to afford the high prices in both Chicago and suburban Cook County.
Forty-eight gas stations in the city and suburbs are participating. Each car is allotted $50 worth of gas.
Wilson, along with gas station owners Khalil Abdullah, and Amin Ibrahim, began giving away the free gas beginning at 7 a.m.
"The need among the community is so great. Soaring gas prices have caused a hardship for too many of our citizens. The average price of regular gas has gone well over $4 a gallon for the first time in nearly 14 years and is now up nearly 50 percent from last year. The war in Ukraine, a ban on Russian oil, and high taxes are contributing to rising fuel prices," Wilson said.
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Hundreds seize on Willie Wilson's $1 million gas giveaway across Chicago
Lines were backed up at Chicago-area gas stations Thursday as drivers fill up their tanks for free courtesy of Chicago millionaire Willie Wilson.
Drivers in Oak Forest said they were grateful for the $50 in free gas and pleased that Wilson brought his generosity to the suburbs. They said the high price of gas has impacted whether they could go to work.
The line stretched down 159th Street from Central to Cicero. Four hundred cars were pumped with up to $50 dollars of free gas.
Unlike the past gas giveaway, traffic was under control. Oak Forest Police guided drivers into an orderly process that people seemed to appreciate.
Gas station owners lowered the price of a gallon of gas for a full day, so that more people could benefit.
Stanley Rankin showed up Thursday at a gas station in Evanston at 2:30 a.m. for a free tank. After he topped off, a campaign staffer of Wilson recruited him to work a pump for $15 an hour.
"He gave me a T-shirt and put me to work because someone else didn’t show up," said Rankin, 61, of Rogers Park.
He pointed to a line of cars that stretched for blocks and said "People are hurting."
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Nearly 50 gas stations across Chicagoland giving away $1 million in free fuel Thursday
Hundreds of Chicago-area residents will get a free fill-up this morning at dozens of gas stations across the area.
Rankin, who’s unemployed, said he planned to use the money he saved at the pump to buy pacifiers and milk for his granddaughter.
"She’s always losing her pacifiers," he said with a laugh.
He said he didn’t vote for Wilson last time he ran, but plans to this time.
The gas giveaway started at 7 a.m. The gas station in Evanston was paid $20,000 to provide about 400 cars with a tank of gas.
At a station in Cicero, Wilson said the gas giveaway was simply about helping people in need.
"I’m not afraid to run for anything," Wilson said, standing beside Cicero Town President Larry Dominick and other local leaders. "I’m not afraid of anything but Christ. So we’ll get ridiculed for doing good, for doing bad. Let them criticize me for doing good. This situation here is only about helping the people."
The following are the Chicago area gas stations participating in the second round of free gas:
- Super Save - 48 E. Garfield Blvd, Chicago
- Amoco - 7210 N. Clark St., Chicago
- Citgo - 1345 N. Pulaski Rd, Chicago
- Shell - 6129 W. North Ave., Chicago
- Citgo - 5103 W. Madison St., Chicago
- Shell - 6434 W. Archer Ave., Chicago
- Marathon - 340 S. Sacramento, Chicago
- Super Save - 11100 S. State St., Chicago
- Citgo - 6700 S. Cottage Grove, Chicago
- BP - 7601 S. South Chicago, Chicago
- Amoco - 4401 W. Roosevelt Road, Chicago
- BP - 342 E. 35th St., Chicago
- Super Save - 9452 S. Cottage Grove, Chicago
- Gulf - 9901 S. Halsted St., Chicago
- BP - 3955 N. Western Ave, Chicago
- Shell - 5230 S. Western Ave, Chicago
- BP - 4401 W. 55th St., Chicago
- Clark - 1201 W. 87th St., Chicago
- Citgo - 5150 W. Chicago Ave, Chicago
- Clark - 4300 South Union, Chicago
- Falcon - 8702 S. Roberts Road, Hickory Hills
- Citgo - 13801 S. Halsted St., Riverdale
- Exxon Mobil - 1421 E. Sibley Blvd, Dolton
- BP - 15857 S. Halsted St., Harvey
- BP - 11201 W. Cermak Rd, Westchester
- Phillips - 9340 Irving Park Rd, Schiller Park
- BP - 5201 W. Cermak Road
- Amoco - 1700 N. Mannheim, Stone Park
- Mobile - 1101 N. LaGrange Road, LaGrange Park
- Mobile - 9401 W. Higgins Road, Rosemont
- Citgo - 15221 S. Halsted St., Phoenix
- BP - 5548 W. 159th St, Oak Forest
- Citgo - 11901 S. Marshfield, Calumet Park
- Super Save - 101 W. Madison St., Maywood
- Mobile - 1950 Green Bay Road, Evanston
- Shell - 2474 Thatcher, River Grove
- BP - 17th and Bataan, Broadview
- Mobil - 431 W. Lincoln Highway, Chicago Heights
- BP - 11041 S. Pulaski Rd, Oak Lawn
- Shell - 385 Sauk Trail, Park Forest
- Shell- 4555 N. Nagle, Harwood Heights
- GoLo - 4005 W. 135th, Robbins
- BP - 1309 N. 25th, Melrose Park
- Shell - 3901 S. Harlem, Stickney
- Falcon - 18280 S. Pulaski, Country Club Hills
- BP - 17460 Kedzie Avenu, Hazel Crest
- Shell - 2401 Lincoln Highway, Olympia Fields
- BP - 1601 Oak Park Ave, Berwyn
The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report