Store that sold $754m lotto ticket makes brilliant choice over its reward money

10 December 2023 , 08:00

742     0

The store that sold the winning Powerball ticket decided to share their reward with the community and help those less fortunate (Image: AP)

A grocery store that sold one of the largest jackpot Powerball winning tickets decided to put their reward for selling the winning ticket to amazing use.

After selling the $754.6 million (£599.2 million) jackpot-winning ticket, the fifth largest in the Powerball's history, the Fred Meyer store in Auburn, Washington received a $50,000 (£39,700) cheque from the lottery commission earlier this year. But instead of keeping the money for themselves, the store decided to be generous.

The company donated the full $50,000 to Auburn Food Bank. This donation means the food bank was able to provide around 66,000 meals, according to a joint statement from the store and foodbank.

READ MORE: 'We won Powerball for 7 hours due to big error - but only lucky few got to keep jackpots'

"Hunger and food insecurity are critical issues across the state and partnerships like this one with Fred Meyer and QFC (Quality Food Centers) aim to shrink the numbers of people facing food insecurity," said the executive director of the Auburn Food Bank, Debbie Christian. Fred Meyer added that their decision was made in honour of their Zero Hunger Zero Waste social impact strategy.

Bank of Dave self-made millionaire giving away money to 'keep kids working hard'

The Powerball jackpot stood at more than $700 million (AP)

In a statement shared by the City of Auburn's government Facebook page, Ms Christian added: "This donation is truly remarkable. These funds will help feed tens of thousands of families across the community as we work to top our goal of feeding more than 14,000 households in 2023. With the rising cost of food nationwide, this donation will translate to much-needed assistance."

Kroger's strategy is aimed at reducing waste and ending hunger and has seen three billion meals donated since 2017. According to Kroger, the company that owns Fred Meyer, 38 per cent of food produced in the US is thrown away - meaning 229 million tonnes of surplus food goes unsold or uneaten every year, and that's in addition to food left unharvested on farms.

Meanwhile, almost 42 million Americans, one in eight, struggle with hunger. Kroger says the social and environmental impact plan "reflects our commitment to build a more resilient, equitable and sustainable food system that improves access to affordable, fresh food for everyone - for generations to come."

The donation helped pay for 66,000 meals (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

"It's always good to give back and today everyone wins," Fred Meyer president Todd Kammeyer said. "In addition to this donation, Fred Meyer is giving $10,000 to the store for our associates to celebrate."

All the winning numbers were matched on the single ticket in Washington state for the $754.6 million jackpot in February earlier this year. The winner had the option of taking a lump sum payment of $407.2 million (£323.2 million) or having their prize paid out in annuity for the full $754.6 million.

The win, drawn on February 6, was the first Powerball jackpot win of 2023, and the first since November 19. The almost three-month streak without a win allowed the jackpot to grow larger and larger until it became the ninth-largest in US history

Fiona Leishman