EDNA, Texas – An Edna man is helping grieving families honor their loved ones lost in the Hill Country floods by donating custom-made caskets.
Trey Ganem, owner of Soul Shrine Industries, pledged to customize 27 caskets.
“It comes from my heart. It’s not about painting a casket, it’s about telling their story and representing their life,” Ganem told KPRC 2 during a visit to his workshop.
Each unique piece requires four to five hours of meticulous work and typically costs between $3,000 to $4,000 per casket.
For one young victim who loved dinosaurs, Ganem adorned the casket with the child’s favorite prehistoric creatures.
“When you’re working on a smaller casket, it hits you hard,” Ganem said. “I have kids, I have grandkids. There’s not words that can describe this.”
Ganem’s commitment to helping families during tragic times began in 2014 when they donated caskets to a family who lost five children in a fire.
He’s done the same for the victims of Sutherland Springs and Uvalde.
As requests continue to arrive, Ganem has established a nonprofit organization to ensure no family in need is turned away.
For more information about supporting Ganem’s mission or to request assistance, click here.