<div>At 3:15 PM on Monday, 9/25/2023, a fire broke out in the second story of our friend Craig Ames' family farmhouse and CCS Mascots business studio in Oakland, Maine. The Oakland Fire Department responded and successfully contained the fire to the second floor before it was extinguished, and very thankfully Craig and his four family members and their pets survived the fire. However, the second floor of the farmhouse and all its contents, including the entirety of Craig's CCS Mascots studio, equipment and inventory, sadly has been totally destroyed.
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<div><strong>News article and video here</strong>: <a href="https://www.centralmaine.com/2023/09/25/fire-damages-oakland-home-displacing-five-people" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://www.centralmaine.com/2023/09/25/fire-damages-oakland-home-displacing-five-people/" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://www.centralmaine.com/2023/09/25/fire-damages-oakland-home-displacing-five-people/</a></a>
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<div>On behalf of The Short Family and cancer support charity Short Folks For Hope Foundation, our hearts are with Craig and his family during this tragic time.  Craig is the talented artist who created the fursuits for our charity's beloved Furry Ambassadors/Mascots, Lagoona the Dutch Angel Dragon (2017) and Mama Bear Kalliope (2022), who make special visits to children with life-threatening illnesses.  Craig has helped raise thousands of dollars in support of our charity's mission to empower, encourage and celebrate cancer warriors, and inspire youth to be creative, compassionate members of our communities (<a href="https://shortfolks.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://shortfolks.org" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://shortfolks.org</a></a>).  Our family wishes to help Craig, his family and CCS Mascots recover and rebuild, and we hope you will, too.     
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<div>Any amount donated in this fundraiser for the Ames family, no matter how small, is greatly appreciated. If you can't donate, please consider sharing this fund request on your social media channels to help this request for support reach our community.
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<div>Thank you,
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<div>Kristen Short
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Anonymous

Elizabeth Anders

Eridor -

Sarah Young

Allison Short

Kristen Short

Chris Seeman

Aaron McAdams

Ezekiel Sligar

Daniel Leroux

Germanium Fox

Quincy Collins

Craig Ames family home & CCS Mascots fire relief

Craig Ames family home & CCS Mascots fire relief

Still $11,692 to go. Help us build momentum.