Paying it forward with Powerball winnings

JACKSON, Tenn. — If you just won the Powerball, have you thought about what you are going to do with all that money?

Besides maybe buying a new car, paying off a mortgage, or buying a private jet you could also do a whole lot of good right here in West Tennessee with all that cash.

Local non-profits said even just a small portion of the winnings could sustain them for years to come.

“There are so may opportunities that someone would have to be generous,” Major Jayne May with the Salvation Army said. “All you need is a creative mind and we’re here to help with that.”

Non-profits across West Tennessee said they sometimes struggle to make ends meet while still serving the public. But a jump start from a generous lucky winner could change all that.

“That would help us to keep our lights on, help keep our employees paid and keep our services on going,” Major May said.

For RIFA, if someone decided to donate their entire power ball winnings to their Snack Backpack program, which sends food home with children over the weekend so they do not go hungry, the program could be sustained for 2,000 years.

“It would completely eradicate childhood hunger here in Jackson-Madison County,” Chelsea Cobb with RIFA said. “I can only imagine the impact that it would have.”

It could also have an even bigger impact on the people actually making the donation.

“It definitely makes people feel good to donate,” Cobb said. “And we feel good when people want to donate because it can help so many in this community.”

Although some frown upon gambling, these nonprofits said if you are willing to help out, they will gladly accept.

“Our founder liked to say, the only thing wrong with tainted money it ‘taint’ enough,” Major May said. “He said we would take that money and wash it in the blood of Jesus and we would put it to good use.”

If no one win’s Wednesday night, the jackpot is expected to rise to an estimated $2 billion by Saturday, even more money you could use to pay it forward.