Donna Reed of Brooksville, Fla., tried her luck investing five dollars on Cash 5 tickets on Sunday and won $167,635 in Sunday’s drawing.
“I put that five bucks to good use wouldn’t you say,” Reed said.
Reed was one of three winners who matched all five numbers on Sunday so the $502,905 jackpot was divided three ways. The two other winning tickets were purchased in Raleigh at the Han-Dee Hugo on Hillsborough Street and through Online Play by someone in Wilson.
Although she lives in Florida, Reed has been staying in Bryson City taking care of her son’s house while he was in the hospital. She purchased her Quick Pick ticket at Ingles Markets on 19/23 Hughes Branch Road in Bryson City.
Reed brought luck with her from Florida as she previously won $500,000 in 2016 on a $5 GOLD RUSH scratch-off ticket playing the Florida Lottery. She said she couldn’t believe she won again.
“It’s really like a dream,” Reed said. “It’s just a wonderful feeling. I honestly still can’t believe it.”
Reed arrived at lottery headquarters on Tuesday to collect her winnings. After required federal and state tax withholdings, she took home $118,602.
Reed said it is wonderful timing for her to win because her son has been sick and she has bills to pay. She said she might also buy her son a truck with her winnings.
Cash 5 is one of four lottery games in North Carolina where players have the option of buying their tickets through Online Play either through the lottery’s website or with the NC Lottery Official Mobile App. Cash 5 tickets are $1 and drawings are held every night.
Ticket sales from draw games like Cash 5 make it possible for the lottery to raise more than $900 million per year for education. A $4.7 million grant, using money raised by the lottery, helped Swain County build a new building at Swain High School. For details on other ways Swain County benefits from lottery funds, visit www.nclottery.com and click on the “Impact” section.