This time, his team intends their second event to function more as carefully choreographed, charitable mayhem.
“I had no idea it was going to be this big,” Wilson said, “but when it happened, it just exploded. And I was surprised like everyone else.”
Cars can line up starting at 7 a.m. at 21 locations in Chicago, but not before, the Office of Emergency Management and Communications said Tuesday.
WATCH: Lines wrap around blocks at gas stations across the city
Each car can receive up to $50 in free gas and each station will accommodate up to 400 cars. Stickers will be distributed to indicate position in line.
“This time the volunteers are going to hand out numbers from 1 to 400,” said Khalil Abdullah, owner of several participating gas stations.
Chicago police officers will be deployed throughout the city to assist with traffic control.
“The queue will start at 6 a.m. No one will be allowed into the lines until 6 a.m. If you are there earlier you will be asked to leave,” the police chief said. by Cicero, Jerry Chlada.
Wilson plans to donate $1 million worth of gas to help people deal with soaring gas prices.
“There were a lot of people who didn’t get a chance to do it. They lined up,” Wilson said. “I saw people in tears.
Last week’s $200,000 donation of free gas caused a massive traffic jam in the city.
Thursday’s giveaway will also include several locations in the suburbs – 48 locations in all.
“We think it’s going to be fine, and hopefully as many people as possible can get gas tomorrow,” Wilson said Tuesday.
“We try to help the communities. Each station receives about 20,000 people, so I hope people around can benefit from it,” Abdullah added.
Bobie Nall said she would be at participating Shell stations in Park Forest on Thursday.
“It’s free gas. It’s up to $50, right? Yeah, so gas is almost $5 a gallon, so yeah, I’ll be there,” Nall said. .
Park Forest Police said they would direct cars into a residential area to avoid backing onto the main thoroughfare.
“We found out on Saturday afternoon, so it’s been kind of a rush to get things ready,” said Deputy Chief Paul Winfrey of the Park Forest Police Department. “It took most of the day trying to find the best route that will cause the least impact on residents and businesses.”
The City of Cicero and the Chicago Police Department are also working with Wilson to alleviate traffic issues this time and ensure public safety.
“Last week we really didn’t get a lot of notification. This time around we had a few extra days to plan for it,” said Rich Guidice, executive director of the Office of Emergency Management and Communications. .
“All side streets south of Cermak Road between Lombard and Laramie Ave will be closed beginning at approximately 3 a.m.,” Chief Chlada added.
“Best case scenario, everyone is calm and polite and we line up the cars and keep going fast. And everyone gets the free gas,” Winfrey added.
However, a spokesperson for Wilson said “a few” suburban communities decided not to participate on Thursday “for their own reasons.”
These locations include Alsip and the Thorntons in Bellwood and Dixmoor.
The Posen Police Department posted on its Facebook page that the gasoline giveaway was canceled there as well.
SEE MORE: Chicago free gas giveaway: Businessman Willie Wilson offers $200,000 in fill-ups across town
Everything is expected to take about four to five hours at each station.
With prices well above $4 a gallon in some places, Thursday’s giveaway is something of a lifesaver.
Stations will also lower their prices, so more people can participate, Wilson said.
WATCH: Willie Wilson talks Chicago’s free gas giveaway
Participating Gas Stations: Free gas from 7 a.m. Thursday until $1 million is exhausted
Austin
Shell at 6129 W. North Ave., Chicago
South Austin
Citgo at 5103 W. Madison Ave., Chicago
Citgo at 5150 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago
Rogers Park
Amoco at 7201 N. Clark St., Chicago
Gage Park
Shell at 5230 S. Western Ave., Chicago
Washington Park
Super Save at 48 E. Garfield Blvd., Chicago
Humboldt Park
Citgo at 1345 N. Pulaski Road, Chicago
Fern
9901 S. Halsted St., Chicago
East Garfield Park
Marathon at 340 S. Sacramento Blvd., Chicago
roseland
Super Save at 11100 S. State St. Chicago
9452 S. Cottage Grove Ave, Chicago
park mansion
Citgo at 6700 S. Cottage Grove Ave., Chicago
Grand Crossing
BP at 7600 S. Chicago Ave., Chicago
North Center
BP at 3955 N. Western Ave., Chicago
Lawndale
Amoco at 4401 W. Roosevelt Road, Chicago
The hole
PO Box at 342 E. 35th St., Chicago
Garfield Crest
Shell at 6434 W. Archer Ave., Chicago
West Elsdon
PO Box at 4401 W. 55th St., Chicago
Gresham
Clark at 1201 W. 87th St., Chicago
Canaryville
Clark at 4300 S. Union Ave., Chicago
Cook County
Northern suburbs
Mobil at 1950 Green Bay Road, Evanston
Phillips at 9340 Irving Park Road, Schiller Park
Mobil at 9401 Higgins Road West, Rosemont
Shell at 2474 Thatcher Ave, River Grove
Shell at 4555 N. Nagle Ave., Harwood Heights
western suburbs
Super Save at 101 W. Madison St., Maywood
BP at 11201 W. Cermak Road, Westchester
BP at 5201 W. Cermak Road, Cicero
Amoco at 1700 N. Mannheim Road, Stone Park
Mobil at 1101 N. La Grange Road, La Grange Park
BP at 17th Avenue and Bataan Drive, Broadview
Shell at 3901 S. Harlem Ave., Stickney
PO Box at 1309 N. 25th Ave., Melrose Park
BP at 1600 Oak Park Avenue, Berwyn
Southern suburbs
Falcon at 18280 S. Pulaski Road, Country Club Hills
Citgo at 13801 S. Halsted Street, Riverdale
Exxon Mobil at 1421 E. Sibley Blvd., Dolton
PO Box at 15857 S. Halsted Street, Harvey
Citgo at 15221 S. Halsted St., Phoenix
PO Box at 5548 W. 159th St., Oak Forest
Citgo at 11901 S. Marshfield Avenue, Calumet Park
Shell at 385 Sauk Trail, Park Forest
PO Box at 17450 Kedzie Ave, Hazel Crest
GoLo at 4005 W. 135th St., Robbins
Falcon at 8702 S. Roberts Road, Hickory Hills
Shell at 2401 Lincoln Highway, Olympia Fields
Mobil at 431 W. Lincoln Highway, Chicago Heights
PO Box at 11040 S. Pulaski Road, Oak Lawn
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