LOWER TRURO, N.S.—The phone hasn’t stopped ringing at Allen and Violet Large’s home over news the elderly Nova Scotia couple has given away almost $11.2 million in lottery winnings.

Allen Large says they’ve received calls from well-wishers and reporters from across the country since a story about their philanthropy appeared in the Halifax Chronicle Herald today.

The Lower Truro couple won their fortune in a July 14 Lotto 649 draw and decided to take care of family and various organizations and institutions instead of spending it on themselves.

The story is even drawing interest abroad.

A producer with ITV television in London called The Canadian Press today looking to connect with the Larges, and the story is drawing a flood of comments from readers on the Daily Mail’s website in the United Kingdom.

Large says he and wife haven’t given away every penny — they’ve put aside about two per cent of the winnings for a rainy day.

At the Shillelagh House, a family restaurant in Lower Truro, owner Lori Hingley said her patrons were abuzz with news about the Larges’ generosity.

“People who know them just know that’s the type of people they are — they’re just happy to have each other,” Hingley said, adding that most people in the area heard about their giving ways back in the summer when they won the Atlantic Lottery’s Lotto 649.

Word spread beyond the small community Thursday when a story was published in the Halifax Chronicle-Herald.

“I think people are wondering why they didn’t keep any and treat themselves, but mostly people just think it’s great how generous they were.”

With files from Brendan Kennedy