With fuel costs surging to close $5 per gallon in some areas, lengthy traces have been reported at four-dozen fuel stations throughout Chicago and Cook County on Thursday, with $1 million price of gas given away by philanthropist and frequent political candidate Dr. Willie Wilson.
Rogers Park resident Katherine Ellis in contrast the giveaway to profitable the lottery.
“I was number one,” she stated. “It will make money for me, because I drive Lyft and Uber and I deliver food for UberEats. It’s going to help me out a great deal.”
There have been loads of rideshare drivers within the traces, to whom a full tank of fuel may doubtlessly imply a much bigger paycheck.
Edgar Valencia, who lives in Cicero, echoed comparable sentiments.
“I’m just very thankful. It’s unexpected,” he stated.
Each fuel station was given as much as $50 per buyer, with 1000’s of {dollars} supplied by Wilson’s charity to assist pay for fuel for 1000’s of Chicago-area residents.
“$50 worth of gas is going to help out,” Darnice Hightower stated. “I just got back from vacation, and I go back to work tomorrow and let me tell you, this is gonna help.”
Wilson says that he wished to do one thing good for individuals who want it.
“It’s a need. When people struggle like I used to struggle, it’s nice to do something good,” he stated.
Wilson, a businessman who is anticipated to run for mayor of Chicago subsequent 12 months, says that his giveaway was not a political stunt.
“My intention in running for office is not why I did this,” he stated. “We’ll get ridiculed for doing good, for doing bad, so let them criticize me for doing good.”