Local

SC store’s lottery windfall feeds customers for Thanksgiving

ANDERSON, S.C. — A store in South Carolina that sold a $350,000 winning lottery ticket is using some of its share of the lucky windfall to help its customers on Thanksgiving.

The owners and managers at KP Food Mart in Anderson are frying turkeys and making side dishes Thursday for its customers and the homeless people who live nearby, store manager Aggi Tarnowski told The Independent-Mail of Anderson.

A customer earlier this month won $350,000 on a scratch off ticket, and under South Carolina Lottery rules, the store received 1% — or $3,500.

“We’re not going to judge anyone, we’re all humans and nobody is perfect,” said Tarnowski, who framed the winning ticket and has it hanging in her store. “I might not have much, but whatever I have, I’d give it all away. I will get it back tenfold and I will be blessed for it.”

KP Food Mart’s managers gave out candy on Halloween and any money left over from the Thanksgiving food will be given to needy families for Christmas, Tarnowski said.

“We have been open only like two-and-half months, and this is a big thing for us to bring some positive vibes in Anderson as a new store,” Tarnowski said in her Polish accent. “It also shows the people us, as foreigners, can have good input in the community.”

Tarnowski is making the side dishes, including macaroni and cheese, dressing, green bean casserole and rolls and store supervisor Melissa Grimmette is frying the turkeys.

Some customers heard about the plan and brought in their own donations. One donated turkey sat on top of a case of beer in the store’s refrigerated cases on Wednesday.