As gas prices continue to soar nationwide, a simple but powerful act of generosity unfolded in Rockville Centre.
From noon to about 2 p.m. on May 2, Pastor Aretha Wilson of the Kingdom Revival Center, an apostolic Christian church in Lynbrook, and other volunteers handed out about 150 prepaid $25 gas cards at the BP station at the corner of Sunrise Highway and Ocean Avenue as part of a “Free Gas on God” event, also known as “Pump and Pray.”
The intersection along the Rockville Centre–Lynbrook border quickly grew congested as surprised motorists lined up to take advantage of the unexpected offer. Lynbrook police officers were dispatched to direct traffic, and volunteers guided drivers into open pump lanes.
“It’s just to let people know that they’re loved and that we care about them,” Wilson said. “These are challenging times.”
Wilson explained that organizing the event began with reaching out to a gas station owner to request use of the site for a two-hour window, or until the prepaid cards ran out. Her group covered up to $25 per vehicle, handled the pumping, and coordinated with local police to manage traffic and ensure safety.
The effort was funded entirely through donations from church members, who pooled their own money to purchase the gas cards.
“I’d say we had 100 gift cards, and we were down to our last,” Wilson said. “So far there’s been 90 cars. So, I just made an extra donation to get 40 more cards… so it’ll be up to 150 cars when we finish.”
At the time of the event, prices at the station reflected the broader spike being felt across the country, with regular listed at $4.39 per gallon, mid-grade at $4.79, premium at $5.19 and diesel at $5.89.
The event marked the church’s third such giveaway since 2021, but its first held in the Lynbrook–Rockville Centre area.
The giveaway came amid a sharp rise in gas prices driven largely by global events. Analysts point to escalating tensions in the Middle East — particularly disruptions to oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz — as a major factor limiting supply and pushing crude oil prices higher. Those increases have quickly translated to the pump, with the national average climbing above $4.40 per gallon in recent days, according to the American Automobile Association website.
“I will keep on doing it as long as we’re able to,” Wilson said.
