Gofundme set up for Cambria house fire victims

Dec. 27—Roberta Sherwood and Chris Cooper lost their home at 5838 Shawnee Road in Cambria on Christmas night. As you'd imagine during this time of year, they have already received plenty of help recovering.

A Gofundme page has been set up by their daughter-in-law Heather Cooper, with a current goal of raising $30,000.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the Gofundme effort had raised $17,515 from 209 donations.

"It means a lot to us that people reached out," said Zach Cooper, Chris's son and Heather's husband. "They don't have much of anything left anymore."

The page description reads that while everyone was settling in for the night and family had headed home from 5838 Shawnee Road in Cambria, Chris and Roberta were alerted that their garage was on fire as neighbors banged on their front door.

While they and their pet dog got out safely, their garage, pickup truck, camper, and house were a total loss. Their pet cat also died, hiding in the bedroom during the fire.

Firefighters from the Bergholz, Sanborn, Pekin, Shawnee and Cambria companies as well as the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station responded to extinguish the fire. Fire inspectors have yet to confirm the cause.

Roberta and Chris are staying at a friend's house for the time being. The American Red Cross is assisting them in getting an apartment.

The Fin, Feather, and Fur Conservation Society (3F Club) has also been accepting clothes donations via a donation bin at the club's 904 Swann Road building. It is open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at 4 p.m. and Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays at noon.

Liz Coffey, a friend of theirs through the 3F Club, said they are overwhelmed with clothes donations.

Zach said a friend of his is donating a mattress while restaurants reached out to donate food. Right now, they are pushing the Gofundme and gift cards as ways to help.

Monetary donations through Gofundme can be made at https://www.gofundme.com/f/cooper-sherwood-house-fire.