Funeral donations for Indiana child to help other kids

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (AP) - Money raised to cover funeral expenses for an Indiana child who starved to death will instead benefit other children and their families after a funeral home picked up the cost of the burial.

The Tribune-Star (http://bit.ly/2pcKD8G ) reported that the Vigo County Sheriff's Office presented a check for more than $3,100 to Reach Services, an organization that provides services to people with disabilities. The money was raised after four people were arrested in the February death of 9-year-old Cameron Hoopingarner.

Cameron, who had cerebral palsy, weighed only 15 pounds when officers found him at a home near Fontanet, about 60 miles west of Indianapolis. He was later pronounced dead at a hospital. Cameron's two guardians and two other people face charges of neglect resulting in death and failure to report child neglect. They've pleaded not guilty. Additional drug-related charges were filed against them after an autopsy revealed Cameron had methamphetamine in his system.

After hearing there was no money to give the child a proper burial, a woman from Terre Haute, Amanda Hoole, started a GoFundMe account. Roselawn Funeral Home later covered the cost of the funeral.

"I was humbled by the generosity of our community and the servant's heart of so many," Vigo County Sheriff Greg Ewing said.

Hoole and the sheriff's office recently gave the money to Reach Services, which was formerly United Cerebral Palsy of the Wabash Valley, in memory of Cameron.

"We will never be able to bring Cameron back but know that the donation you have made today will be used in helping children like Cameron and the parents who want answers to help them," said Susie Thompson, executive director of Reach Services.

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Information from: Tribune-Star, http://www.tribstar.com