An Illinois Lottery player won $500,000 on a $10 Holiday Bucks scratch-off ticket. The winner, who goes by "Jessie," purchased the ticket at Walmart, 3849 Northridge Drive, Rockford, according to a community announcement.

Jessie said she was running errands when she decided to buy the ticket.

"I was in a hurry, so I just scratched the barcode on the ticket and scanned it at the machine," she said in the announcement. "You wouldn’t believe how big my eyes got when '$500,000' popped up on the screen!"

Jessie said she plans to use the money to help her family and others.

"It’s so amazing that this happened right at the start of the holiday season," she said in the announcement. "I want to treat my family, but I also plan to help those who are less fortunate — especially kids in my communi

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