Sharae Carter of Enfield said she plans to use a $250,000 lottery prize to make her dream of owning a seafood restaurant come true.

“My husband and I both love seafood and love to cook,” Carter said. “We’ve wanted to open our own business for a long time, but never had the money until now. This is a dream come true.”

The bank manager’s good fortune happened Friday when she stopped at the Metro Mart on South McDaniel Street in Enfield to get snacks for her three little boys.

“It’s something we do almost every day,” Carter said. “They always want cheese puffs or a Little Debbie snack cake.”

While there, she bought a 20X The Cash scratch-off ticket.

“When I saw the numbers I couldn’t think,” Carter said. “I was in a daze. I didn’t believe it.”

Carter claimed her prize Tuesday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. After required state and federal tax withholdings, she took home $176,876.

The $5 ticket launched in February with eight top prizes of $250,000. One top prize remains.

Ticket sales from games like 20X The Cash make it possible for the lottery to raise more than $650 million a year for education.

This link gives details on how $2.9 million in lottery funds made a difference in Halifax County last year.