Publishers Clearing Business firm reps Danielle Lam and Howie Guja on Sunday, Feb. 28, surprised Cottage Grove resident Tamar Veatch and her family with $5,000 every calendar week for life. Information technology's amid the biggest PCH awards, Lam said, because later on Tamar passes away, she can designate someone else to keep receiving the $five,000 a week for the rest of their life, too. ERIN TIERNEY/THE Relate

COTTAGE GROVE – You could've knocked Cottage Grove resident Tamar Veatch over with a feather Sunday morn subsequently she opened her door to $five,000 every calendar week. Forever.

Her husband Matthew heard a knocking on the door in the morning, and called on his wife to investigate. "Dear, you need to answer the door. There's people outside with balloons," he yelled.

"I thought he was joking," Tamar said. Unsure, she peeked out the window, turned the doorknob slowly and that'south when it hitting her … she was about to win big.

Tamar and Matthew Veatch are still in shock, but their happiness cannot be contained after winning $five,000 a week for life on Feb. 28. ERIN TIERNEY/THE Relate

The Publishers Clearing House on Sunday, Feb. 28, awarded Tamar ane of the biggest prizes of the year – $five,000 a calendar week for life, and then afterwards that, $5,000 a calendar week for life to a casher of Tamar'southward choosing. John Wyllie From White City, Ore. in 2012 was the showtime person in Oregon to win this honor; Tamar is the second.

"This is my favorite prize because it's really 2 lifetimes," said Danielle Lam, PCH prize patrol aristocracy member and a recognizable confront in the PCH commercials. "It'southward passing it downward and leaving a legacy to someone."

Prize Patrol members Howie Guja and Danielle Lam have a selfie with the Veatch family unit in Cottage Grove later on they revealed Tamar won one of the biggest prizes of the yr. ERIN TIERNEY/THE CHRONICLE

"Information technology is very real and I am still in shock. I can't believe this. This is crazy. Oh my word," Tamar said.

Both retired and disabled veterans, "we have a very fixed income," Matthew said. "It's quite a feeling that we don't have to depend on that money anymore," Tamar said.

The Veatchs moved from Eugene to Cottage Grove vi years agone and are raising their children, 9-year-former Liya, half-dozen-twelvemonth quondam Ronen and i-year-sometime Anya, in what the previous owner dubbed a "cabbage" – a mixture of a cabin and a cottage.

In her spare time, Veatch periodically dabbles on the PCH app and on the website. "I would enter a few contests and then simply kind of become on with life," she said, still working through the shock. "I was expecting to maybe one day win i of the smaller prizes, but I didn't ever wait to win the big prize."

Tamar said they plan to use the money to aid pay off debt, put money in a college fund for their kids, and take an anniversary vacation of their lifetime. "We were planning on going to England earlier the pandemic, so this (money) will definitely aid the states become there," she said, adding that the fluctuating prices of airline tickets is no longer a concern.

The Veatchs met in the Army later on being stationed in Federal republic of germany. "This twelvemonth is our 20th nuptials anniversary and nosotros are going to go back to Frg," Matthew said, who is a 2000 alumnus of Thurston High Schoolhouse.

The sweepstakes crew commencement gathered at the Flower Basket Souvenir & Boutique, where owner Ballad Reeves strung balloons and arranged a bright red flower bouquet for the winners, and showed Prize Patrol the ropes to the Grove.

All eyes are on The Flower Handbasket Souvenir & Boutique, as the Publishers Clearing House camera crew shoot video before surprising the award winners. Carol Reeves, owner of the Flower Basket, supplied the flowers and balloons for the winners, and helped the Prize Patrol navigate through town. ERIN TIERNEY/THE CHRONICLE

Reeves said she always thought it would be awesome to be the florist for events similar these at Publishers Clearing House. Then out of the blue, the PCH called her three days ago and asked her to be the florist.

"I loved being part of this life-changing experience for the lucky winner," Reeves said, and "Danielle and Howie (Guja) of the PCH Prize Patrol were then much fun to work with."

Howie Guja and Danielle Lam, Publishers Clearing House members, pose with Carol Reeves, owner of the Bloom Basket Gift & Boutique, which supplied balloons and flowers for the contest winners. ERIN TIERNEY/THE CHRONICLE

"We love supporting local businesses when nosotros travel to do these sweepstakes," Lam said, who purchased a sunhat from the boutique earlier the large issue. The nighttime before, Lam said the New York-based crew checked out the local scene and enjoyed dinner at the Axe & Fiddle. Howie Guja, Prize Patrol member said he is impressed past the breweries in the Pacific Northwest and the coiffure was looking frontwards to visiting Coast Fork Brewing subsequently the event.

Publishers Clearing Firm reps Danielle Lam and Howie Guja shoot film for their commercial at some iconic Cottage Grove scenes. ERIN TIERNEY/THE CHRONICLE

"The experience of seeing Tamar'south reaction was priceless and I beloved the fact that they are disabled veterans and are very deserving," Reeves said.

Check out The Chronicle'due south Facebook folio for videos from the event.