Powerball drawing gets Yuma locals thinking how they’d spend winnings

With the Powerball jackpot at over half a billion dollars, some Yuma locals say they would help out some important causes if they win - 13 On Your Side's Luis Lopez reports

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Throughout Yuma on Friday, locals picked up champagne and food for New Year’s celebrations. However they also flocked to buy something else, Powerball tickets.

With the jackpot at half a billion dollars. People are imagining the possibilities. With a cash value of nearly $356 million, the thought of winning has people like Yuma resident Arron Welch planning how he would use his winnings.

“Well if I won half a billion dollars, I’d pretty much you know, invest some of it, put the rest in some type of savings or something for my kids for their college fund, and go somewhere and retire,” Welch said.

Joan Hampshire was also trying to win big. The Canadian visitor bought $20 worth of tickets on Friday, saying that she’d use her winnings to give back to those in need.

“I would start programs in schools for kids to have meals, I would open up homes for vets to help them get through the hard times, I would of course help my children, but not to the point where they’d be silly, there’s so much that a person could do that it’s just unbelievable,” Hampshire said.

The drawing will take place Saturday, January 1 at 8:59 p.m. mountain time.