Ronnie Swank, winner of Sertoma’s grand prize at their recent banquet, made winners of many when she immediately gave the money to Home of Hope and their new Pryor store Centsible Spending Resale Shop.

Swank, who bought only one ticket this year in the annual Sertoma Fall Banquet, ended up with the winning ticket when her number was called for the grand prize of $5,000 cash. She was unable to attend the banquet, so she didn’t know she was a

winner until her daughter, Cindy Moore gave her a call.

“My daughter called and told me I’d won,” Swank said. “That was the first time I’d won.”

Almost immediately, she knew what she was going to do with the money. Donate it to the Home of Hope, who

recently opened a resale shop on Highway 69 across from Pizza Hut. Centsible Spending III is owned by Home of Hope and provides employment for adults with developmental disabilities, or other special needs.

“Why Home of Hope?” J.B. Robison, Jr. said. He is the Director of Planning and Development for the organization.

Quietly she answered, “It’s giving …” Her sentence drifted off as emotion filled her voice. Daughter Cindy stepped in.

“It’s giving her granddaughter a life,” she said. Cindy’s daughter, Ashlee, is an employee for the Pryor resale shop. She is a client of Home of Hope.

“It gives her the opportunity to be a contributor,” Swank finished.

When Sertoma member Carl Osborn called her the morning after the banquet to inform her of the win, she’d already made up her mind.

“I asked if Sertoma could just roll it from them to Home of Hope,” Swank said.

They did and immediately, things began to improve in the Pryor store.

“The money had an instant impact,” Greg Crawford, Director of Vocational Services said. “This money could not have come at a better time.” The fridge in the back room was broken and funds just weren’t available to replace it.

“We bought a brand new refrigerator with some of that money,” Crawford said. They’ve also purchased a washer and dryer. More things are planned in the future.

Centsible Spending has been open for around three months. They have eight adult employees with special needs. There are two on-site job coaches that teach employee skills.

“Here they teach them how to run a register, to sort clothes, wash, or steam them,” Crawford said. The store features clothes for everyone, glassware, shoes and knick-knacks and much more. There are plans to open up additional rooms to feature furniture.

“The money will help with all of that,” he said.

Home of Hope is excited to be in Pryor and to provide a service that is needed in the area.

“Pryor has welcomed us with open arms. It’s been really neat,” Crawford said. “Our guys love to come to work. They’re so happy to be here. They love to help and to greet people.”

“It’s such a great program to have here,” Moore agreed.

Swank helped Sertoma by supporting their fundraiser, showing her love for her community. Upon winning, she supported another effort, showing her love for her family.

Not surprising to her daughter.

“If you knew my parents, you’d know. I knew they weren’t going to keep it,” Moore said.

And the winner made winners of them all.