As stories of kindness begin to trickle out of the areas hardest hit by the tornado that struck Southern Ontario, one family is speaking about how it will remember the child it lost during the disaster.

"A few days ago, our beautiful son was taken from us and all our lives have been forever changed," the family of 11-year-old Owen McPherson said in its first statement since the 11-year-old boy's death.

"Please know that he was loved by all who knew him."

McPherson was with a day camp in a conservation area in Durham, Ontario, south of Owen Sound, when the tornado hit on Thursday. He was the only fatality from the storm. His family has asked for privacy.

Premier Dalton McGuinty travelled to the town where he met with the boy's family and toured the devastation left by Thursday's storm.

McGuinty says there are government programs and funding available to help affected residents rebuild.

"I expect at some point in time the community would make application to that, and we would find some ways to lend support," he said.

Durham and Vaughan were the hardest hit by the string of twisters that barrelled across the province, and both declared states of emergency.

Vaughan alone saw almost 600 homes damaged by the twister. Over 40 may have to be demolished.

Despite the destruction, there are countless stories of human kindness.

One family in Vaughan is standing out by opening its doors, and providing home-cooked meals to neighbours, construction workers and emergency crews.

George Pestana and Laura Vidal's home is being affectionately dubbed "head office," and has become a nerve centre for the reconstruction operation.

The two say they are lucky their home is still standing, and have to do what they can to help their neighbours who weren't as fortunate.

"Every one of them has invited us to their home for dinner, for lunches for Christmases," Pestana said about his neighbours.

"I mean this is just natural, it wasn't like we had to think twice about it," he said.

Their neighbours are thankful.

"They've made their home our home. We've used their washroom," one of their neighbours said.

"I think need a humanitarian award of some kind because they're just wonderful."

The family approached local grocery stores for food donations, but say they were turned away.

Despite Vidal's layoff a few months ago, the family is providing all the food with their own money.

The scene in Durham is similar. One business set up a table with free coffee and treats for those helping with the clean-up.

And a local hardware store is offering free chainsaws to the community to help out.

McLean's Home Hardware says anyone who needs help removing broken branches or tree limbs can borrow a chainsaw, free of charge, as long as it's returned.