Current:Home > NewsHer 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. -GrowthSphere Strategies
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:2025-04-14 14:25:07
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! (28953)
Related
- Mets have visions of grandeur, and a dynasty, with Juan Soto as major catalyst
- Hello Kitty's Not a Cat, Goofy's Not a Dog. You'll Be Shocked By These Facts About Your Fave Characters
- Reactions to the deaths of NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew Gaudreau
- Hello Kitty's Not a Cat, Goofy's Not a Dog. You'll Be Shocked By These Facts About Your Fave Characters
- Hackers hit Rhode Island benefits system in major cyberattack. Personal data could be released soon
- NYC Environmental Justice Activists Feel Ignored by the City and the Army Corps on Climate Projects
- One of Matthew Perry's Doctors Agrees to Plea Deal in Ketamine-Related Death Case
- Chrysler's great-grandson wants to buy, rebuild Chrysler, Dodge brand; Stellantis responds
- Nevada attorney general revives 2020 fake electors case
- These Target Labor Day Deals Won’t Disappoint—Save up to 70% off Decor & Shop Apple, Keurig, Cuisinart
Ranking
- Spooky or not? Some Choa Chu Kang residents say community garden resembles cemetery
- Federal Reserve’s favored inflation gauge shows price pressures easing as rate cuts near
- Top Brazilian judge orders suspension of X platform in Brazil amid feud with Musk
- When are the 2024 MTV VMAs? Date, time, performers and how to vote for your faves
- Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
- Jaw-Dropping Old Navy Labor Day Sale: Tanks for $4, Jumpsuits for $12, and More Deals Up to 70% Off
- Navajo Nation adopts changes to tribal law regulating the transportation of uranium across its land
- Look: Olympic medalist Simone Biles throws out first pitch at Houston Astros MLB game
Recommendation
Finally, good retirement news! Southwest pilots' plan is a bright spot, experts say
Hello Kitty's Not a Cat, Goofy's Not a Dog. You'll Be Shocked By These Facts About Your Fave Characters
Police use Taser to subdue man who stormed media area of Trump rally in Pennsylvania
Police detain man Scotty McCreery accused of hitting woman at his Colorado concert
From family road trips to travel woes: Americans are navigating skyrocketing holiday costs
Will Lionel Messi travel for Inter Miami's match vs. Chicago Fire? Here's the latest
Milo Ventimiglia reunites with Mandy Moore for 'This Is Us' rewatch: See the photo
Sister Wives' Robyn and Kody Brown List $1.65 Million Home for Sale