Social Media, Helping Thousands!

Kami Huyse posted this blog, which can be found here, and I have to say, this is one my favorite blogs. For the last 6 weeks I have been learning how influential social media can be to a company, but this blogs shows how influential social media can be in helping people.

The Red Cross set up a plan to use social media tools to help better communicate in the case of a disaster. While originally planning on testing this system after a hurricane, the Red Cross is now using social media to deliver aid and raise money for disaster victims of the California wildfires. By using Twitter, the Red Cross can:

• Send out minute-to-minute updates on this and other disasters.
  
• Allow people to access the Safe and Well Web site with a cell phone.

The Red Cross is also tracking what bloggers are saying about the California fires by linking to them in delicious, as well as tracking a Flickr photo feed group. To help raise money, people can donate $5 to the Red Cross Disaster fund by texting the word “GIVE” to “2HELP” (24357). The donations will appear on your monthly bill or be debited from prepaid account balances. Participating carriers include AT&T Mobility, Alltel, Boost Mobile, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless, and SunCom, with VeriSign powering the intelligent messaging infrastructure. Note: You can check the veracity of this statement by reading about it on the official Red Cross blog for the California fires.

So what does this all mean?

By using social media the Red Cross is able to bring comfort to thousands of people. By allowing them to update their Safe and Well Web site with their cell phone. Now, people with family and friends in the area of a disaster don't have to wait a week before knowing about their safety. Another comforting aspect is people like to know that they are receiving up to date information.

Social media also makes raising money a lot easier, because lets face it, people are lazy. Even when it comes to something like this, people are more apt to give money if it as easy as sending a text. No paper, no hassle and people feel good about what they're doing.

Social media is an incredible tool, and has chessy as this sounds, it's great to hear that is helping save lives.