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Kanawha County couple plans to spend part of $1M lottery winnings on flood relief efforts

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The “surreal” moment for Sam and Barb Ratliff, of Elkview, came during a time West Virginians needed help the most. The couple won a $1 million Powerball ticket two days after the June 23 flood that wiped away homes and claimed more than 20 lives.

The Ratliffs, married for 47 years, have been helping with recovery efforts at the Mt. Tabor Methodist Church in Elkview since the storm. They said part of their winnings will be put toward helping the impacted victims and community.

“For it to come at a time like this where there are some needs around, we’re glad that we can help maybe a little bit more than what we could have before,” said Barb Ratliff during a Tuesday press conference at the West Virginia Lottery Headquarters in Charleston.

“We didn’t win this. This was a gift from God,” Sam Ratliff said. “Yeah,” Barb agreed.

Part of the money will go toward the church and toward a charity on the Elk River called ‘Backpack Ministry’ which helps feed hungry children, Barb Ratliff said.

The couple purchased the ticket at a Kroger store in Beckley. John Myers, state Lottery Acting Director, said their ticket matched 5 of the 6 numbers from the June 25 Powerball drawing.

The winning ticket was kept a secret from much of their church community. Barb Ratliff said they didn’t want people to think “they were bragging” about the money.

“To get something like that when things were so devastating… You have to take care of the people that need the help first and then you worry about your smiles and your happiness,” she said.

Barb said she plans on retiring from the West Virginia Auditor’s Office at the end of July. She said after more than 18 years there, it’s the perfect time to end her career. Sam said he has been retired for about four years.

Next month, the Ratliffs will travel to California as part of an already planned trip to visit their grandchildren.

“I can’t wait to get there,” Barb said. “We’re ready,” Sam added.

Also, the couple plans on using part of their money to pay off their family’s student loan debt.

“It will enable us to help our children. When we were in the military, we didn’t have a lot of extra cash, so we couldn’t pay off school loans and so now I can do that,” Barb said.

“Even though I have this check it’s like… Wow,” she said. “I kind of wish everyone could have this feeling.”

Myers said no one matched all six numbers for the June 25 drawing. As of Tuesday afternoon, the Powerball jackpot stood at an estimated $257 million for Wednesday’s drawing.





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