Ottawa Lottery Winner Spends $20,000 On Groceries For Strangers

An Ottawa woman who won a massive lottery jackpot is using her fortune to help neighbors tackle rising grocery costs. Patricia “Patty” Warden, who won $70 million in a Lotto Max draw in May 2024, recently visited a Greely Foodland to distribute over $20,000 in gift cards to unsuspecting shoppers.

A Surprise at the Checkout

Warden knows firsthand that many people are struggling to keep food on the table. She spent her afternoon handing out hundreds of gift cards to help ease the burden of high prices.

“The hardest thing right now isn’t just the bills — it’s the cost of groceries,” Warden told CTV News. “I’m in a position to give back.”

From Hardship to Hope

Warden’s generosity is fueled by her own past struggles with homelessness, addiction, and illness. Now 30 years sober, she credits her mother for helping her turn her life around before she ever won the lottery.

“I owe everything to my mom,” she said. “She helped me rebuild my life — with integrity, caring, and respect for others. You can’t put a price on that. Seventy million dollars is nothing compared to those values.”

Staying Grounded

Despite her massive wealth, Warden remains focused on her original goal of helping others. She insists that the money has not changed who she is at her core.
“I get to help a lot more people, which was my goal,” she said. “It’s life-changing in that way. But I’m still Patty. That will never change. I just want to share my happiness.”

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