Dad checking NC lottery ticket ‘kept seeing zeros.’ Now he dreams big for his family

A North Carolina dad checked his lottery ticket — and “kept seeing zeros.”

Now, the 22-year-old jackpot winner has big dreams for his family, according to the N.C. Education Lottery.

“This is definitely a huge step toward our one-day dream home,” Juan Garcia said in an Aug. 23 news release.

Garcia scored a $250,000 prize after he needed quarters for laundry. While at University Market in Durham, officials said he also tried his luck on a ticket to play the Mega Bucks Limited Edition game.

He spent $5 on the ticket and learned it was worth much more.

“I was in disbelief,” Garcia said in the release. “I kept seeing zeros.”

Garcia, who works as an HVAC installer, kept $177,526 after taxes. He’s the father of a 6-month-old and hopes to save his prize money to eventually buy a family home, according to the N.C. Education Lottery.

It’s not the first time a North Carolina lottery winner has had a loved one in mind.

In August, officials said a man who hit the jackpot hoped to spoil his mom with a new car.

And last year, a lottery player hoped to help his relatives after scoring big, McClatchy News reported.

If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website.

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