Home Depot manager nails $500,000 in 2nd lottery win | Community Spirit

ATLANTA – A Home Depot employee from Atlanta has constructed his second big Georgia Lottery win. Erik Holmes, 44, claimed a $500,000 prize Tuesday, less than a year after winning $104,000.

Holmes’ recent win is on the new game $7 Million Jackpot. He was leaving work when he purchased the ticket at Ponce Food Mart, 689 Boulevard N.E., Atlanta.

“I scratched it in the store and immediately turned it over and signed it,” he said. “Then I gave the clerk a big hug and drove home. I was surprisingly calm.”

A Home Depot department manager, Holmes will donate some of his winnings to the company’s Homer Fund, which helps associates in times of need.

He used his previous prize from March 2011 to help family and friends.

“Giving back is one of Home Depot’s core values, and I firmly believe in that,” he said.