Eager customers lined up for free gas at the Shell station in north Palm Springs to take advantage of a California Lottery giveaway on Friday.

The deal was simple: The first 200 cars to pull up to a pump between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. and buy $10 in Daily 4 tickets received $50 worth of free gas.

“My sister saw it on the news and I was like, ‘Come on, let's go!'” said a laughing Tiffany Ervin Moore of Desert Hot Springs. She was crammed into a van with two other women and four equally enthusiastic toddlers. “And just think — we might hit the Lotto!” she said.

Dave Porter of Palm Springs was quick to respond. First in line at the pumps, he said he believes the recent dip in gas prices will stimulate business. In regards to the giveaway, “It's like being handed $40,” he said.

Other organizations offering similar deals.

At LifeStream, the blood bank of San Bernadino and Riverside Counties, any dedicated donor who brings a first-time donor to the La Quinta Center through Oct. 31 is eligible to win a pair of $500 gasoline cards.

The donor center is at 79-215 Corporate Centre Drive in La Quinta. For more information, call 777-8844 or go to www.lstream.org.

Unicars Honda at 78-970 Varner Road and the I-10 Automall in Indio are offering $225 in gas for those who test drive any new or pre-owned vehicle in stock. Call 345-7555.