The Frasers Mountain woman and mother of two children won $5,200 worth of free groceries from Sobeys through Big Red #ChairShare contest which ran from May 25 to Aug. 9.
Customers entered the contest on social media, taking a photo in the big red chair and telling why they love their local Sobeys using the hashtag #ChairShare.
There 785 entries were received from across Atlantic Canada and the winner was selected randomly.
Vankessel was thrilled when she learned she had won.
“I was blown away. I could not believe it. I was so excited.”
The money will be a huge help to her family, she said, adding that her son is a Type 1 diabetic.
“I spend a lot of my time planning meals so this is a huge help to help us eat healthier.”
Her son Nicholas, age 6, and daughter Caroline, age 4, were both on hand to receive the cheque. They were the ones who had been pictured in the winning photo.
“This guy you can’t fill him,” said Vankessel. “I’ll spend it easily.”
Aberdeen Sobeys store manager Greg MacCallum said he received word Monday that the winner was from their store and was thrilled at the news.
“There was only one chosen in Atlantic Canada so it was nice that it was someone from our store,” he said.