Chicago Mayoral Hopeful Willie Wilson Plans $2 Million Gas Giveaway

CHICAGO — Chicago mayoral hopeful Willie Wilson is planning his fifth gas giveaway on July 9. The philanthropist is planning to give away $2 million in gas at Chicago and suburban gas stations. He’s also reaching across state lines, by including some gas stations in Indiana.

A draft of prospective gas stations included in the July 9 gas giveaway announced on Wilson’s Facebook page include:

Chicago

Citgo, 1745 W. Foster Ave.
BP, 4447 W. Fullerton
Citgo, 3820 S. Archer Ave.

Suburban Cook County

SNK Fuels, 8301 S. Harlem Ave., Bridgeview
SNK Fuels, 2441 N. Mannheim Road, Franklin Park

Indiana

Citgo, 5390 W. 15th Ave., Gary
Citgo, 4450 Calumet Ave., Hammond
Citgo, 403 E. Gostlin St., Hammon

Wilson gave away $80,000 in food coupons at Cermak Fresh Market stores Wednesday in Chicago. Shoppers received a $25 gift card until the $80,000 was spent. The cards were all gone by 2 p.m. It was his second food giveaway.

Recently, Wilson has been calling upon Mayor Lori Lightfoot to suspend the Chicago municipal gas tax to provide further relief to residents through the end of summer.

Wilson has said inflation is eroding the savings of many Americans, with lower-income families spending more than three quarters of their income on necessities like food and gasoline.

"I see and hear the pain of my fellow citizens, and I must help," Wilson said.

Since March, Wilson has given away $3.2 million in gas and food since March. Some critics allege Wilson is buying votes in the 2023 Chicago election, where he is a mayoral candidate. Grateful Chicagoans, however, praised Wilson’s food giveaway on his Facebook page as a generous and kind gesture.

~ This story will be updated when the gas station list is finalized.