Trey Ganem has been creating custom caskets and urns for years, many of which he has given away for free to the victims of disasters and other tragedies. He did it for the victims of the Uvalde shooting. He stepped up for the victims of the 2017 church shooting in Sutherland Springs. Following the floods in Kerrville and surrounding areas, he is back at it, helping the families of victims through their most difficult moments as they lay their loved ones to rest.
He isn’t always sure where the money is going to come from when the calls start to roll in. Like most charity organizations, Let a Soulshine Foundation, which Trey operates primarily with his wife Michelle and son Billy, relies on donations just like every other charity. When he learned of the floods in the hill country, he had around $3,000 in the Soulshine bank account, but he kept the faith that things would come together. He always has faith that it will happen when it needs to.
“I’m like, ‘We got one casket taken care of. There you go,” said Trey. “That’s good enough for me.”
Fortunately for Trey and his clients, help was on the way in the form of Formosa Hook and Cook for Charity, run by The Sportsman’s for Charity Club. The Sportsman’s for Charity Club is a group of Formosa employees who offer donations to local nonprofit organizations, funded largely by their annual fishing tournament.
When they got wind of what Trey and his crew were doing, they knew they had to help. On Wednesday, July 16, Sportsman For Charity Club showed up at Soulshine Industries in Edna armed with a check to put toward caskets and urns for the final accommodations for those lost in the floods.
Trey became emotional as he heard the number, $50,000, fighting back tears and hugging the Sportsman’s for Charity board members. The
see SPORTSMAN on page A3 money doesn’t just lift a burden off the shoulders of Trey. It takes a weight off of those who are navigating the most difficult time in their lives as they say goodbye to their loved ones.
Those who would like to follow Trey’s mission can find his Facebook Page, Soulshine Industries. To follow and support The Sportsman’s for Charity Club, their Facebook page can be found at Formosa Hook & Cook for Charity on Facebook.
