South Suburbs Prepare For Willie Wilson's $1 Million Gas Giveaway

OAK LAWN, IL — At least four gas stations have pulled out of businessman and philanthropist Dr. Willie Wilson’s $1 million gas giveaway set for Thursday, March 24.

Alsip and Posen both announced they were pulling out of Wilson’s giveaway out of concerns for traffic gridlock in their towns, Chicago CBS-2 reported. Chicago police also will not allow people to line up early. On St. Patrick’s Day, hundreds of cars lined up at select Chicago gas stations when Wilson gave away $200,000 in free gas, causing traffic jams and tying up police officers’ time. Some people began lining up at midnight the night before.

Starting at 7 a.m., the first 400 vehicles at 46 participating gas stations throughout the Chicago area will receive $50 worth of free gas. The gas station operators have also agreed to lower their prices. Wilson said he is treating Chicago-area residents to free gas in response to soaring gas prices due to the war in Ukraine and ban on Russian oil.

>>> KONKOL: God Bless Willie Wilson, Chicago's 'Free Gas' Man Of The People

Volunteers will be pumping gas at the participating gas stations, so motorists will not have to get out of their cars. The giveaway will go on until the $1 million runs out.

While Alsip has bowed out, the Oak Lawn BP station at 11040 S. Pulaski Road has opted in. Oak Lawn police issued a community alert Wednesday afternoon, asking residents to avoid the area of 111th to 99th Street, from Pulaski to Cicero if they don’t intend to partake in Wilson’s generous offer.

Motorists will only be allowed to enter the BP from the southbound curb lane of Pulaski, and then will only be allowed to exit the Oak Lawn BP Gas Station o to westbound 111th Street.

“[Oak Lawn] police officers will there in an attempt to control traffic,” Mayor Terry Vorderer told Patch.

The Oak Forest Police Department is warning motorists participating in the giveaway not to line up before 7 a.m. at the BP, 5548 W. 159th St., Oak Forest, which is expected to continue until 10 a.m. The first 400 vehicles at the gas station will receive $50 in gas.

There will be one point of entry/exit to the Oak Forest BP on 159th Street, just east of Central Avenue. The entrance/exit is only accessible to westbound traffic. Once drivers fill up, vehicles must head west out of the gas station. The westbound curb lane of 159th Street will be used to accommodate those waiting to receive their fuel.

“Our personnel will make every effort to keep traffic flowing,” Oak Forest Police Chief Jason Reid said in a news release. “In light of previous giveaways in other towns, we are asking those who are not participating in the event to find alternate routes of travel, so as to avoid the area.”

Jocelyn Needer, field director for Mobil Gas, said she will be helping to run the gas giveaway for the LaGrange Park Mobil station at 1101 N. LaGrange Road.

“We will be giving numbers out to each car until we reach 400,” Needer told Patch. “We are also honored to have the current Ms. USA Universe Lady Tiffany Kory to help volunteer to pump gas that day.”

Here is an updated list of participating gas stations:

1. BP - 11040 S. Pulaski Rd., Oak Lawn
2. Shell, 5230 S. Western Av., Chicago
3. BP, 342 E. 35th St., Chicago
4. Super Save, 48 E. Garfield Blvd., Chicago
5. Shell, 6434 W. Archer Av., Chicago
6. Citgo, 6700 S Cottage Grove Av, Chicago
7. BP, 7600 S. South Chicago Av., Chicago
8. Clark, 1201 W. 87th St, Chicago
9. Gulf, 9901 S. Halsted St., Chicago
10. Super Save, 9452 S. Cottage Grove Av., Chicago
11. Super Save, 11100 S. State St., Chicago
12. BP, 4401 W. 55th St, Chicago, IL
13. Amoco, 7210 N. Clark St., Chicago
14. Citgo, 1345 N. Pulaski Rd, Chicago
15. Marathon, 340 S Sacramento Blvd, Chicago
16. Amoco, 4401 W. Roosevelt Rd, Chicago
17. Citgo, 5103 W. Madison St., Chicago
18. Citgo, 5150 W. Chicago Av., Chicago
19. BP, 3955 N. Western Av., Chicago
20. Shell, 6129 W. North Av., Chicago
21. Super Save, 101 W. Madison, Maywood
22. Mobil, 1950 Green Bay Rd, Evanston
23. Shell, 3901 S. Harlem Av., Stickney
24. Falcon, 18280 S. Pulaski Rd., Country Club Hills
25. BP, 17450 S. Kedzie Av., Hazel Crest
26. Citgo, 13801 S. Halsted St., Riverdale
27. Exxon Mobil, 1421 E Sibley Blvd, Dolton
28. BP, 15857 S. Halsted St., Harvey
29. GoLo, 4005 W. 135th, Robbins
30. Citgo, 11901 S. Marshfield Av., Calumet Park
31. Shell, 385 Sauk Trail, Park Forest
32. Falcon, 8702 S. Roberts Rd., Hickory Hills
33. Citgo, 15221 S. Halsted St., Phoenix
34. BP, 11201 W. Cermak Rd., Westchester
35. Phillips, 9340 Irving Park Rd., Schiller Park
36. Amoco, 1700 N. Mannheim, Stone Park
37. BP, 5201 W. Cermak Rd, Cicero
38. Mobil, 1101 N. LaGrange Rd., LaGrange Park
39. Mobil, 9401 W. Higgins, Rosemont
40. BP, 5548 W. 159th, Oak Forest
41. BP, 17th & Bataan, Broadview
42. BP, 1309 N. 25th, Melrose Park
43. Shell, 4555 N. Nagle, Harwood Heights
44. Shell, 2474 Thatcher, River Grove
45. Shell, 2401 Lincoln Hwy, Olympia Fields
46. BP, 1601 Oak Park, Berwyn