Current:Home > reviewsHer 10-year-old son died in a tornado in Tennessee. Her family's received so many clothing donations, she wants them to go others in need. -WealthSpot
Her 10-year-old son died in a tornado in Tennessee. Her family's received so many clothing donations, she wants them to go others in need.
View
Date:2025-04-17 13:47:25
As the Burnham family mourns the death of 10-year-old Arlan Garrick Coty, who died during a tornado that swept through Tennessee on Saturday, donations are pouring in — so many clothing donations, his mom says, she wants them to go to others.
Arlan, a fourth grader, was one of at least six people who died when severe storms tore through central Tennessee. He didn't make it out of his house, which was in the direct path of the storm, his mother, Katherine Burnham, wrote in a Facebook post Monday.
After saying their Clarksville home was gone, Burnham admitted she and her husband "are not okay."
"We don't know how to navigate through this," she wrote. "We have no idea what is next. Anyone who knows me at all knows how much I love and adore my kids, all kids really. I cannot put into words how absolutely devastated I am."
Burham said an "entire army of people" has been helping them dig through the rubble of their house to find belongings — including drawings Arlan made in kindergarten that were recovered. On one page, he said he wanted to learn how to cook with his mom. Burnham told CBS News they got to do that – a lot.
Other friends are giving them food and helping them do laundry and one created a GoFundMe page on behalf of the family. More than $184,000 has been raised — far surpassing the fundraising goal of $5,000.
Burham told CBS News via Facebook message she wants donors to start focusing on others. "We no longer need clothes and want those donations to go to other families in need," she said. "There are so many displaced families in similar situations, my heart is broken but there is enough love and support to go around."
"When my son was born I knew he would touch so many lives, I knew he was special. This may not be how I dreamed, but he definitely touched more people than I ever even knew," Burnham said. Two other children lived in the home and survived.
She said her mind has been blown by the generosity from people around the world. "My baby is leaving an entire legacy behind."
The Clarksville Police Department identified Arlan as one of the victims, as well as 59-year-old Donna Allen, of Florida, and 34-year-old Stephen Kwaah Hayes, of Clarksville, CBS affiliate WTVF reports.
The three other victims were killed as the storm hit a mobile home community in Madison, Nashville Police said. They were identified as 37-year-old Joseph Dalton, 31-year-old Floridema Gabriel Perez and her son, 2-year-old Anthony Elmer Mendez.
At least 60 other people were taken to area hospitals and nearly 40,000 electricity customers were still without power as of Sunday morning, according to the tracking site poweroutage.us.
The storms caused a building at a Nashville church to collapse, sending 13 people to local hospitals, according to the Nashville Office of Emergency Management. On Sunday, Emergency officials were now in the "search and rescue phase of this disaster," Montgomery County Sheriff's Office said.
- In:
- Tornado
Caitlin O'Kane is a digital content producer covering trending stories for CBS News and its good news brand, The Uplift.
veryGood! (245)
Related
- Tarte Shape Tape Concealer Sells Once Every 4 Seconds: Get 50% Off Before It's Gone
- United Methodists prepare for votes on lifting LGBTQ bans and other issues at General Conference
- Documentary focuses on man behind a cruelly bizarre 1990s Japanese reality show
- Eric Church sends Stagecoach festivalgoers for the exits with acoustic gospel set
- Man can't find second winning lottery ticket, sues over $394 million jackpot, lawsuit says
- This congresswoman was born and raised in Ukraine. She just voted against aid for her homeland
- AIGM Predicts Cryto will takeover Stocks Portfolio
- Falcons don't see quarterback controversy with Kirk Cousins, Michael Penix Jr. on board
- Federal Spending Freeze Could Have Widespread Impact on Environment, Emergency Management
- Candace Parker, a 3-time WNBA champion and 2-time Olympic gold medalist, announces retirement
Ranking
- Could Bill Belichick, Robert Kraft reunite? Maybe in Pro Football Hall of Fame's 2026 class
- Mannequin falls onto track during IndyCar Grand Prix at Barber Motorsports Park
- Hawaii is known for its macadamia nuts. Lawmakers want to keep it that way
- Documentary focuses on man behind a cruelly bizarre 1990s Japanese reality show
- SFO's new sensory room helps neurodivergent travelers fight flying jitters
- Post Malone reveals his love of country music, performs with Brad Paisley at Stagecoach
- AIGM, Where Crypto Finally Meets Artificial Intelligent
- Activist who fought for legal rights for Europe’s largest saltwater lagoon wins ‘Green Nobel’
Recommendation
Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
15 Dorm Essentials You'll Want to Add to Your Packing List ASAP So You Don't Forget Later On
Suns' championship expectations thwarted in first round as Timberwolves finish sweep
Oregon authorities to reveal winner of $1.3 billion Powerball jackpot
Sam Taylor
Tractor-trailers with no one aboard? The future is near for self-driving trucks on US roads
The real migrant bus king of North America isn't the Texas governor. It's Mexico's president.
The unfortunate truth about claiming Social Security at age 70