Help Fuel the Little Neck-Douglaston Community Ambulance Corps

The desire to help is all the fuel needed for the 42 volunteers responsible for keeping the up and running. Their vehicles, on the other hand, require something a little more tangible— and expensive.

Which is why the organization is looking to residents to help it win Citgo's "Fueling Good" contest, which will furnish 24 lucky non-profits across the East Coast and the South with $5,000 worth of free gasoline.

Louis Calderon, the corps' president, said he stumbled upon the contest completely at random.

"Honestly, I googled 'gas donation,'" he said. "I was just putzing around on the Internet. You'd be surprised what you can find out there." 

The ambulance corps was selected for the final round by Citgo staff, but the outcome is ultimately left in the hands of voters. Supporters can vote once per day until the contest closes on Feb. 9. 

The corps had already garnered 85 votes as of press time, but they can still use all the help they can get. Anyone who wants to can click here to vote. More information about the contest is available here. 

Though the corps hosts , high operating costs and a rapidly increasing membership have it currently operating on a negative budget.  Free gasoline would allow the organization to allocate its funds for other, equally-needed supplies, like uniforms and global positioning systems for the ambulances.

"All I know is, if they're going to give away free fuel, there's nobody who could use it better than us," Calderon said. "I mean, an ambulance? Fuel? Come on. I think it's a natural fit."