Photos: (Getty/CBS News)
After the tornado ripped through Oklahoma last week, news outlets began interviewing people who had lost their homes and possessions. One interview, however, took a surprisingly uplifting turn as Moore, Oklahoma, resident Barbara Garcia found her missing dog, Bowser, while on camera. Now, a stranger has set up a fundraising campaign to help her buy a new home!
Erin DeRuggiero has never met Garcia in person, but she was "shattered" after seeing the woman's destroyed home in the interview. Inspired to help the stranger, DeRuggiero set up the fundraising campaign with a goal of $100,000 -- $50,000 in individual donations that would hopefully be matched by a corporate sponsor. As of today, the campaign has raised almost $51,000 for Garcia's new home in just nine days! DeRuggiero, who is the co-founder of a social media company called Social Reality, is just one of many people who have stepped up in recent days to help those affected by the tornado. Usher, Miranda Lambert, and other celebs joined Blake Shelton during his "Healing in the Heartland" benefit concert last night, while Carrie Underwood and Kevin Durant each donated $1 million to the Red Cross.
Want to join in on the rebuilding efforts? There are still plenty of Oklahoma residents who need our help. If you want to give back to those in Oklahoma, there are plenty of ways you can get involved. Take action below for more information.