SILVER SPRING, MD — A Montgomery County mother of two received an unforgettable Christmas gift this year, winning $50,000 on a scratch-off ticket purchased at the suggestion of her lottery-loving aunt.
Lilian Hernandez, a novice scratch-off player from Silver Spring, bought the $5 Deluxe Crossword 9th Edition ticket during a family trip to a Safeway in Wheaton for snacks. Initially believing she had won $50, Hernandez quickly realized her prize was actually $50,000 after a second scan of her ticket.
“It’s the biggest blessing we’ve had,” she said after claiming her prize on Monday, accompanied by her aunt, Norma Hernandez, who had encouraged her to buy the game.
The Safeway store where the ticket was purchased, located at 11201 Georgia Avenue in Wheaton, will receive a $500 bonus for selling the top-prize-winning scratch-off.
Hernandez, who works at an emergency veterinary hospital, plans to use the funds to pay bills, reduce her mortgage, and assist family members financially.