Hamil family finds hope despite tornado tragedy through Twitter generosity
(CBS/What's Trending) - The Hamil family that lost everything in the Oklahoma tornado, including their three-year-old son Ryan and 15-month-old son Cole, is finding out first hand the generosity of strangers through Twitter.
The Hamil family is at the forefront of the recent Oklahoma tornado devastation. Mother Catherine, who is four months pregnant, and her daughter Kathleen are in a local hospital for injuries they sustained during the storm. The young girl remains in critical condition, and sadly, son Cole passed away at the hospital on Wednesday.
Their other son Ryan remained missing until early Thursday morning. Unfortunately, the search for the 3-year old boy came to a heartbreaking end yesterday. After tirelessly searching for the boy, police discovered his body on the shore of Lake Falcone.
News of the discovery of Ryan's body has prompted an online tragedy relief campaign for the Hamil family. Two separate accounts have been started by concerned Twitter users. One online account has raised $21,000 in the last two days since the tragedy. The other is a trust where concerned people can call in or mail donations to the family. The tweeters are trying to campaign by getting celebrities to retweet the cause, but have so far been unsuccessful. Here are some of the messages they are trying to get retweeted. Click on the arrow to spread the word.
The Hamil Tragedy Fund isn't the first successful charitable cause social media has enabled and amplified. Back in 2009, Charity: Water -- a non- profit that benefits people in countries without safe drinking water -- managed to raise $650,000 through online campaigns. One- third of the money was raised in February 2009 on Twitter through Twestival.
Twestival was created by one of Charity: Water's supporters Amanda Rose. The online fundraising technique is now a global movement, with events in 17 different countries, that encourages users to donate to charities.
If you're interested in, support the Hamil family go to http://www.gofundme.com/4z9po and pass on the message about the Hamil family on Twitter or Facebook. You can also make donations at any Mid-First Bank location, addressed to "The Hank Hamil Family Support Trust," and by phone by calling (888)-643-3478.