Chicago drivers score free gas in businessman’s $1M giveaway
CHICAGO – Thousands of Chicago-area drivers filled up their tanks for free Thursday during businessman Willie Wilson’s $1 million gas giveaway – his second large-scale fuel donation this month.
According to the Chicago Tribune and WGN-TV, Wilson, who previously ran for Chicago mayor, took to social media March 18 to announce the latest event, which began at 7 a.m. Thursday at 48 gas stations in the city and Cook County. Participating locations agreed to lower their prices and give each vehicle $50 worth of gas until the $1 million total was reached, the post said.
>> PREVIOUS REPORT: Chicago businessman to donate $1M in gas in second giveaway
“The need among the community is so great,” Wilson said in a statement last week. “Soaring gas prices have caused a hardship for too many of our citizens.”
Thursday’s event came one week after Wilson gave away $200,000 in gas at 10 area stations, causing traffic jams in parts of Chicago, WGN reported at the time. Although the second event still snarled traffic in some areas, it appeared to go more smoothly because Wilson enlisted help from Chicago police, the city’s Office of Emergency Management and other officials, according to WGN.
>> PREVIOUS REPORT: Hundreds of drivers line up for free gas in Chicago
“It went very well today,” Wilson told the Tribune on Thursday. “People were very happy, and it was a very good day.”
On Thursday, gas prices within the Chicago city limits averaged $4.842 per gallon, well above the national average of $4.236, according to AAA.
Cars line up early morning along Green Bay Road waiting to receive free gas donated by Willie Wilson at the Mobil Gas Station on Thursday, March 24, 2022, in Evanston, Ill.
Businessman and former Chicago mayoral candidate Willie Wilson pumps donated gas for a driver at a BP gas station Thursday, March 24, 2022, in Cicero, Ill. Wilson was giving gas away to motorists who showed up at four dozen gas stations. Some drivers waited for more more than an hour to collect their $50 worth of gasoline.
Lewis Ball of Lincolnwood is excited to receive free gas donated by Willie Wilson at the Mobil Gas Station along Green Bay Road on Thursday, March 24, 2022, in Evanston, Illinois.
Businessman and former Chicago mayoral candidate Willie Wilson pumps donated gas for a driver at a BP gas station Thursday, March 24, 2022, in Cicero, Ill. Wilson was giving gas away to motorists who showed up at four dozen gas stations. Some drivers waited for more more than an hour to collect their $50 worth of gasoline.
Businessman and former Chicago mayoral candidate Willie Wilson speaks during a news conference after pumping donated gas for drivers at a BP gas station, Thursday, March 24, 2022 in Cicero, Ill. Wilson was giving gas away to motorists who showed up at four dozen gas stations. Some drivers waited for more more than an hour to collect their $50 worth of gasoline.
Volunteers pump gas donated by businessman and former Chicago mayoral candidate Willie Wilson for drivers at a BP gas station Thursday, March 24, 2022, in Cicero, Ill. Wilson was giving gas away to motorists who showed up at four dozen gas stations. Some drivers waited for more more than an hour to collect their $50 worth of gasoline.
Jesse Morales, 28, shakes hands with with businessman and former Chicago mayoral candidate Willie Wilson after Morales was the first person to get donated gas pumped by Wilson at a BP gas station, Thursday, March 24, 2022, in Cicero, Ill. Wilson was giving gas away to motorists who showed up at four dozen gas stations. Some drivers waited for more more than an hour to collect their $50 worth of gasoline.
Simone Brooks pumps free gas donated by Willie Wilson at the Mobil Gas Station along Green Bay Road on Thursday, March 24, 2022, in Evanston, Illinois.
A worker pumps free gas for a motorist at a gas station in the Humboldt Park neighborhood during businessman Willie Wilson’s first gas giveaway on March 17, 2022, in Chicago.
Motorists line up to receive free gas at a station in the Humboldt Park neighborhood during businessman Willie Wilson’s first gas giveaway on March 17, 2022, in Chicago.
