Talk about a close call! A woman in Pennsylvania almost gave away a lottery ticket worth $1 million, and she didn’t even realize it was missing until weeks later.
What happened next, and what did she do to retrieve it? Keep on reading to find out more!
Spring Cleaning Gone Slightly Wrong
Like many of us trying to declutter and do a bit of good, this woman (who’s chosen to remain anonymous) gathered up some clothes she no longer needed and dropped them off at a local church donation center. Among the donations was an old jacket she hadn’t worn in a while.
What she didn’t realize? That same jacket had a scratch-off lottery ticket tucked into one of the pockets.
A Delayed Realization: Is the Ticket Gone Forever?
Fast forward a few weeks, and local news began reporting that a winning $1 million ticket purchased in her area had yet to be claimed. Curious, she decided to check some of the tickets she still had lying around.
That’s when it hit her—she had bought a ticket that matched the description. The only problem? She had no idea where it was.
Then, the memory clicked: the jacket.
A Lucky Retrieval
Most people wouldn’t be able to track down a jacket they donated weeks ago, but in this woman’s case, luck was on her side in more ways than one. She contacted the church and asked if the donations had already been distributed.
Amazingly, they hadn’t. She was able to return to the donation center, sift through the bags, and find the jacket—lottery ticket still safely tucked inside the pocket.
When she scanned the ticket, the screen confirmed it: $1 million.
The woman said she was overwhelmed by the turn of events and grateful that everything worked out in the end. While she hasn’t yet revealed what she plans to do with the winnings, one thing’s for sure—she’ll be checking every pocket from now on.
Not Her First Time Playing the Lottery
While most people only dream of ever holding a winning ticket, the woman shared that she actually plays the lottery pretty regularly. It’s part of her routine—grab a scratch-off when she stops for gas or groceries, like a small treat to break up the everyday.
She admitted she never expected to win anything major, let alone seven figures. “You always hope, but you never really think it’ll be you,” she reportedly said. Turns out that a casual ticket purchase and a bit of forgetfulness almost led to one of the biggest missed opportunities imaginable.
In hindsight, she’s glad she took the time to follow up on the news report and trace her steps. “I’m still in shock,” she added. “It doesn’t feel real.”
This story is a pretty incredible reminder of how easy it is to overlook something valuable, especially when we’re rushing through everyday tasks like cleaning or donating clothes. It’s also a reminder that small moments—like double-checking an old coat—can change your life.
So, next time you’re about to drop off a bag of clothes, give those pockets a once-over. You never know what might be hiding in there.