The increase in gas prices continues to be a looming crisis for many Americans struggling to keep their tanks full. However, one gas station owner in Georgia gave back to his community by lowering the fuel price last weekend.
Ravi Patel owns the Chevron gas station in Hinesville, where the fuel price usually is $3.85 a gallon. He explained why he decided to run the one-time promotion for $1.99 a gallon during the July 4th weekend, Savannah Morning News reported.
“We want to give back to the community,” said Patel. “The community makes us who we are as a family. We all came from India to make a better life for ourselves. This is what we need to do to give back to the community.”
Patel said the idea came to him one night after thinking of ways he could alleviate the financial burden on the town’s residents.
“Everything is going crazy,” said Patel. “I was sleeping one time and I thought I need to do something for the community to ease the burden on their wallet. The first thing that came to my mind was gas. The way the world is right now, we need to give back to the community.”
The lowered fuel price had cars lining up to take advantage of what many described as a “blessing.” Patel said the gas tanks were filled the day before, with 5,000 gallons of fuel sold in just three hours.
Liberty County native Victoria Smith recalled seeing the slashed gas price after returning home for the holiday weekend. While she initially thought the $1.99 fuel price was a scam, Smith praised Patel for wanting to give back to his community.
“This is powerful,” she said. “Everyone should follow through because it is deeper than just getting around. People are not seeing their families and people are having a hard time. I just bought this truck, but it’s no good if I can’t drive it right?”
Emanuel and Robin Holmes also couldn’t believe the local gas station’s discounted fuel price.
“I feel like it’s 1960,” Emanuel said.
Robin said the good deed was a blessing, with many people struggling to afford the skyrocketing gas prices.
“With the way gas prices are these days, a lot of people can’t afford it,” she said. “Twenty dollars will only get me a quarter of a tank. It’s a major blessing.”
According to a report from YCharts, the U.S. retail gas price is nearly $5 a gallon. And with Russia’s war on Ukraine, many lawmakers nationwide have called for a gas tax holiday that would help lower gas prices by imposing a federal tax on fuel companies.
Last month, President Biden urged Congress and the states to create legislation that would potentially ease the burden on Americans to maintain fuel necessity.
In Hinesville, Patel’s discounted fuel price was a much-needed relief for the community.
“It makes me feel good and I’ll sleep better at night,” he said.
