South Carolina Mom Wins $375,000 Lottery Jackpot on a Bad Day — Then Gives Back
RIDGELAND, SC — A routine stop at a gas station turned into a life-changing moment for one South Carolina mom after she scratched off a lottery ticket and discovered she’d won $375,000 — all on a day that had started terribly.
According to the South Carolina Education Lottery, the unnamed woman had been struggling through a rough day at work when she stopped at a Shell gas station in Ridgeland, about 30 miles northwest of Hilton Head Island. She spent $10 on a Mighty Jumbo Bucks scratch-off ticket, her favorite game — and hit the jackpot.
“This can’t be right”
After buying the ticket, she drove to a quiet spot to check it. That’s when she realized she had matched a $75,000 prize that was multiplied by five, leading to a total of $375,000.
“This can’t be right,” she recalled thinking, repeating the math to herself over and over before believing it was real.
The odds of winning that prize? 1 in 960,000.
Giving back to her children and community
After taxes, the winner took home $260,625. She told lottery officials that she used the money to support her children and also made a donation to a food bank.
The South Carolina Education Lottery praised her generosity, highlighting how some winners go beyond personal gain to uplift others.
“My bad day turned out well,” she told officials — a moment that quickly became one of the year’s most uplifting lottery stories, as reported by The State.
Lottery wins and responsible play
While stories like this often bring joy and hope, officials remind residents that gambling should always be approached responsibly. For anyone struggling with gambling-related issues, help is available through the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700 or ncpgambling.org.
What would you do if your bad day turned into a six-figure lottery win? Share your thoughts in the comments — and follow more uplifting South Carolina stories at SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.
