By Mary O’KEEFE

As Crescenta Valley and La Cañada Flintridge were preparing for the 4th of July celebrations, some lucky Honda owners got a little surprise at the gas pump via the Helpful Honda Guys.

For about an hour beginning at
9 a.m. at the Shell service station on Angeles Crest Highway, people in light blue polo-type shirts waited as Honda vehicles pulled up to the pump and then filled their tank.

It was all part of the Random Acts of Kindness the Honda group performs throughout the country.

They moved from the Shell station in La Cañada to the Valero station on Foothill Boulevard in La Crescenta. When the Honda people arrived, they were surprised to see a line of cars trailing from the service station pumps to the street.

Ferlie Pasag, a La Crescenta resident, was one of the first to get his free tank of gas.

He found out about the offer through Twitter.

“I am here for gas. I heard about it on Twitter and Facebook,” Pasag said. “Can’t beat it (free gas) these days. Honda is awesome.”

The Helpful Honda crew enjoyed giving out the free gas.

“Absolutely it’s a blast,” said Alex Hill, spokesman and team leader for Honda. “We do all kinds of things for communities. After this, [we] are doing free parking at Angel Stadium.”

In addition to free gas and parking, people may find the crew helping with groceries at a market or working a blood drive.

“We help with toy drives, we just finished a toy drive for Children’s Hospital LA, “ Hill said.

Visiting children’s hospitals and talking to kids are two of the most rewarding events, Hill added.

“We really try to be helpful,” he said. “It is a great way to help [others] and always gives you a smile.”

Hill compared the crew to superheroes who see a need and help.
“It is one of t
he best jobs you could possibly have,” he said.

  Mary Okeefe