Downtown merchant lost home to fire, community responds

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — A family that operated a shop downtown lost their home to a fire on Monday. Downtown merchants respond and ask the community for help.

Here is the message to downtown merchants:

Downtown family,

We want to share some heartbreaking news involving two members of our downtown community. Yesterday morning, Brad and Callie Eldridge experienced the devastating loss of their home due to a house fire.

Brad is the owner of Parish Waterfowl and a former board member of the Vicksburg Main Street Program. Callie serves our community as the local director of the Keep Vicksburg Beautiful Program. Their dedication to Vicksburg has meant so much to so many, and our hearts are heavy for them and their children during this incredibly difficult time.

Vicksburg Main Street is accepting gift card donations to help the Eldridge family purchase immediate necessities as they begin to navigate the days ahead. Alternatively, if anyone would like to make a monetary donation for the family, please reach out to Kimh@vicksburg.org for more information.

If anyone wants to check and see if they have any gently used or new items for the Eldridges, here is the list:

Child – Shoe size – 9, size 00 – X, Bottom – 0 or 2

Child – Shoe size – 3, Top – YM, Bottom – 10

Adult female – Shoe size – 9, Top – AM, Bottom – 6

Adult male – Shoe size – 10 1/2 or 11, Top size – AM or AL, Bottom – 32/33 or 32/32

Most importantly, we ask that you keep Brad, Callie, and their children in your thoughts and prayers. This is a profound loss, and the strength of our downtown community means everything in moments like these.

Thank you for your compassion and support.