I follow the trail of winning jackpots ranging from $1 million to $415 million, back to the family-run stores where the ticket was sold.
Owners and clerks work long hours to sustain their 24/7 businesses. They know all their customers by name often anticipate their needs. As one store owner told me, "you have to be psychiatrist, counselor, confessor, accountant and a good listener."
These small convenience stores and markets represent a diverse, cross section of hard working families. Some are new immigrants while others are the second or fourth generation to run the corner store.
Despite multi-state jackpots climbing past a billion dollars and booming "instant win" scratch ticket sales, there is still little recognition for the hard working people and places left in the shadow of someone else's big win.
