Nov 29, 2009 11:51 pm US/Pacific
Town Rallies Behind Teens Who Lose Parents
LIVE OAK, Calif. (CBS13) ―
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The Short family teens were in danger of losing their home until the community stepped in.
CBS
A community is banding together to keep three teens living inside their family home after both their parents died.
Drew Short, 19, and his 17-year-old twin sisters Kiley and Shaina were on the verge of losing the only home they've ever known until the town of Live Oak stepped in.
The Shorts' father died suddenly of a heart attack just five months before their mother passed away in October. With no way to support them and still stay in school, Drew was forced to leave college to help his sisters keep the home.
Businesses and residents across the town are opening their wallets to the Shorts. Tower Market is donating food for a spaghetti fundraiser for the kids, and complete strangers have chipped in to help the teens.
"We have had a couple stand up and pay for their PG&E for a year," said Debbie Howeth, who is helping raise money for the Shorts.
Simone Smith, the teens' aunt who came from Bakersfield to stay with them, says she is grateful to the community for helping. She says the three teens have spent most of their lives doing without, and spent much of their time taking care of their disabled parents.
"They've gone through enough and I don't want to see them uprooted from their home," Simone said.
Residents are hoping to raise enough money to pay the kids' $700 mortgage through June, at the least. If you'd like to help, you can donate to Gold Country Bank in Live Oak through the Short Family Memorial Fund, or attend the spaghetti dinner fundraiser at the Waffle Shop in Live Oak on Saturday, December 5, from 5 p.m. through 8 p.m.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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