One of the three Powerball lottery winners has already decided what she’s going to do with at least part of the $188 million she won earlier this week.
“First I’m going to pay my tithes because I wouldn’t have none of it if it wasn’t for God,” Marie Holmes told WECT 6.
The news of Holmes’ win is certainly an inspiring one, as the 26-year-old single mother of four children, one of which has cerebral palsy, revealed that she previously worked at McDonalds and Walmart, but had to quit in order to care for her children.
“I was currently looking for employment, and then God brought this along. I’m grateful. I’m grateful.”
While she admits that the reality of her win hasn’t fully set in, she’s ready to embrace her new life.
“I’m ready for it. I’m ready to embrace the change. I’m very grateful for what’s about to happen for my family,” Holmes told WSOC TV.
In addition to cutting her church a hefty check, Holmes’ plans for the money includes putting money aside for her children’s college tuition and buying a house.
“I’m thankful that I can bless my kids with something that I didn’t have,” she expressed. “I’m going to set up accounts for my kids and when I figure out where we’re going to live, I’m going to buy a house for me and my kids and then I’m going to make sure my family is good.”
What makes Holmes’ story so heartwarming is knowing how much she has struggled up to this point.
“I have four kids, one boy and three girls. I’ve been struggling since I had them, but I wouldn’t trade nothing because they’re a blessing. I’m just thankful that I can actually do it for them without anybody’s help, without anybody telling me that they did this or that. I don’t have to worry about the word ‘struggle’ anymore and neither do they.”
The entire jackpot was for $564.1 million. The other two winning tickets were sold in Texas and Puerto Rico.
