As families begin to lay their children to rest, a company called SoulShine Industries is offering to make customized caskets for the children who were killed during the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.
As FOX 29 reports, the owner of SoulShine Industries, Trey Ganem, announced his services on Facebook. Now, he is responsible for making 18 of the 19 children who passed away. Ganem will also create a casket for one of the two teachers who died, as well.
Texas Company Offers to Make Custom Caskets for Victims of Texas Elementary School Shooting
“Please pray for Uvalde!! I’m on my way to help families in this tragic time. I was asked to help with the caskets and talk with families,” Ganem wrote on Facebook. “This is something no family should ever have to deal with. My love and emotions are already there.”
Ganem continued to use Facebook to update people on the progress of the caskets. On May 27, he revealed the caskets he will customize have arrived.
“We are rocking and rolling with the help of so many. Thank you to everyone who has stepped up to help us and to help the families of Uvalde! We will be tagging and posting a proper thank you to all who have helped soon. Thank you all from the crew here at SoulShine Industries! Continue to pray for the families and all involved.”
According to Ganem, as BuzzFeed News reports, each casket costs upwards of $3,400. Each casket is now free to the families.
While talking with BuzzFeed News, Ganem said he was first approached by someone at the Texas Funeral Directors Association asking for help. “I think there were 17 at the time that he knew of, and [he] wanted to know if I would be able to help out and make sure that all these kids have, you know, some personalization.”
Now that the caskets have arrived, Ganem will personalize each of them to match the interests of each child. While talking with BuzzFeed, the parents of some of the children revealed how they hoped their casket may be customized.
Eliahna Torres loved llamas, TikTok, softball, and making slime, her mom, Sandra revealed to BuzzFeed. “She would tell me that she needed glue for school because she had a big ole project to do, and the glue would be to make slime. She drove us crazy with the TikTok.”
As a result, her casket will incorporate all of those things.