Bel Air 'Furlough Fairy' Wins $50,000 From Powerball

BEL AIR, MD — A Bel Air woman who has been dubbed the “Furlough Fairy” by Maryland Lottery officials has pledged to help those impacted by the partial government shutdown with her prize money. The 53-year-old bought her winning Powerball ticket at the Abingdon Giant in December.

Officials said she was picking up ingredients for a New Year's Eve dinner when she decided to add lotto tickets to her purchase.

In all the buzz of the new year, she forgot about the ticket altogether. Weeks later, when she was shopping again, she scanned it using the ticket checker in the grocery store.

“When I saw that number on the screen, I thought I was going to have a heart attack!" she said.

After scanning the ticket a few more times and having an employee double-check, she learned that she was indeed a $50,000 winner.

She told lottery officials she plans to help federal workers who were affected by the federal government shutdown, which ended Jan. 25, and she will use some of the money to travel.

During the partial government shutdown, she had been buying and distributing gift cards to federal workers who needed assistance.

“I want to bless the furloughed federal workers,” the Powerball winner told lottery officials. She also reportedly said she plans to surprise the clerk who assisted her at the Giant store at 3299 Emmorton Road.

• Maryland Among Hardest Hit By Federal Government Shutdown
• Government Shutdown Costs MD $778M In Wages, Tax Help For Workers
• MD Legislators Happy With Shutdown Deal But Democrats Hit Trump

Image via Maryland Lottery