A hundred people waited in their cars along Elgin Street in Third Ward to graciously accept a free tank of gas from none other than Houston rap icon Trae Tha Truth on Friday.
The gas giveaway was part of Trae Day Weekend, the rapper’s annual citywide celebration and philanthropy weekend that includes celebrity sports games, community service projects and back-to-school giveaways.
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The free gas giveaway started at noon. Trae partnered with the owner of the Chevron gas station and other community organizations to pump $50 worth of gas into 100 participants’ gas tanks.
“I’m always about giving back to the community,” Trae told the Chronicle. “Right now, times are hard and it’s only right for us to do something that is really going to count for them.”
Unleaded gas cost $3.99 a gallon while the community organizers and Trae’s entourage pumped gas. The owner of the gas station, Jeff Ali, said participants could get any type of gas they wanted.
Ali inherited the store from his dad, who ran it for almost 40 years. Ali has also known Trae for about 15 years, he said, and this is the second year in a row they have done the gas giveaway. Last year, when gas was cheaper, they gave away gas to almost 300 cars.
“It started last year but I think it’s something I want to turn into a tradition,” Ali said.
Angela Ervin watches as Sidney Julian pumps gas as part of the annual Trae Day celebration of philanthropy Friday, July 22, 2022, at a gas station in Houston.
Jon Shapley/Staff photographer
Angela Ervin, with a car full of kids, was one of the first people in line to get gas.
“Man, this is a blessing,” Ervin said. “I’ve always said that if I came into money, my thing would be to help people that are less fortunate. This came right on time for me.”
After the gas giveaway, Trae is going to give away ice cream and water to people experiencing homelessness at the corner of Chartres and Congress.
For more information on Trae Day events, go to angelbynature.com.
ryan.nickerson@houstonchronicle.com
