Local business helps Callaway County fire victim’s family with Christmas

A local business is stepping up to help provide a Christmas for the children of a father who died in a house fire in Millersburg Thursday night.

Robert Walker got three of his children out of the house in time after a cooking fire got out of control. But Walker didn’t survive.

Donations have been pouring in since the incident and the community has provided clothing, shoes and food by the boxes.

And now Walker’s cable company, Socket, has decided to go the extra mile since it’s Christmas.

“They’ve got a lot of tragedy in their lives right now,” said Allie Shoemaker, a spokesperson for Socket. “We just want to infuse a little joy in their lives if we can help get them some Christmas presents and make some of the things on their wishlist come true.”

Employees at the local branch in Columbia have been collecting funds this week and will deliver the presents on Christmas Eve.

“We just want to kind of show them that we’re behind them and the community is behind them,” Shoemaker said.

The family told ABC 17 News they’re very grateful for the clothing that has already been donated and said the children still getting a nice Christmas– something they never imagined.

For anyone who still wants to help the family, the New Bloomfield school is still taking donations.