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Stockton Lowe's Employees Step Up To Help Butte Fire Victims

STOCKTON (CBS13) — A family in who lost their home in the Butte Fire is getting a Christmas surprise from employees at a Stockton store.

The Rainier family's house was destroyed by the September fire, and they've only recently moved from campground tents into a temporary house.

The Stockton Lowe's store had planned a holiday party and giveaway for all Butte Fire victims left homeless.

"We're giving away Christmas trees and gifts for a lot of different families," said assistant manager Robert Tedfod.

But the Rainiers couldn't make it, because of a death in the family. Lowe's employees decided to plan a private party for 11-year-old Toch.

He got to pick out a Christmas tree and take it home that day. More surprises were found in the employees' break room—a new bike, gift cards and flowers for Grandmom. Employees even made personal gifts

"Since the fire two-and-a-half months ago, we've had people come and help," Kim Rainier said, "But this is by far very overwhelming."

"A lot of our people who work here, live up in that area," Tedford said. "We took a personal interest in the people that were up there."

The Stockton store and two others Lowe's stores will head up to Calaveras County next week to deliver Christmas trees and toys to other families who also lost everything in the Butte Fire.

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