$25K Gas Giveaway By churches Overshadowed By Station's Perceived Price Gouging

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — Almost a dozen churches belonging to the Collective Empowerment Group decided to help community members by donating gas. In total, the churches spent $25,000 filling up Prince Georgians' gas tanks.

“We believe that that's what the church is here for, to relieve the stress that our neighbors and our friends are experiencing, and that's what's most important to us,” Dr. Bobby Manning of First Baptist Church of District Heights told WUSA9.

However, church leaders believe one gas station hiked its prices by 10 cents per gallon during their gas giveaway.

WUSA9 stopped by that station, Sunoco, on Sunday and saw that the price had been reduced. WUSA9 also reached out to the station owner several times and never heard back from the owner. A station manager declined to comment.

Maryland Delegate Nick Charles, who represents that area, told WUSA9 he reached out to the Attorney General’s office to investigate whether the gas station was intentionally engaging in price gouging.

“Everybody that's in our community doesn't necessarily want to serve our community. So it's just a lesson for me really and for our church leaders to make sure that we're partnering with people who love the community the way that we do,” Manning said.

Read more at WUSA9