By Fiona Finchem, Staff Writer
From Corolla to Manteo, the Outer Banks community is a family like no other. Although the Outer Banks community is small, in times of need, locals are always there to support one another, from the Throwdown Surf Classic to the Outer Banks Food Pantry to hurricane relief.
That same support was instantly shown when one of First Flight’s own students was involved in a car accident.
On Jan. 26, 2021, 16-year-old Tatum Love was critically injured in a car accident in Kill Devil Hills after being thrown from the back of a Jeep Wrangler that flipped six times. From the moment she was taken to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, locals instantly began raising awareness, including junior Fiona McKenna, who started a Go Fund Me account within 24 hours while waiting at the hospital with several of Love’s friends.
“All of us started to share the link on every social media platform we had, from Facebook to TikTok,” McKenna said. “And before we knew it, everyone had posted it and the numbers were skyrocketing.”
The donations started flooding in immediately. McKenna and friends were shocked at the amount of money coming in, and within two days, the Outer Banks community had raised a whopping $78,000, with a top donation of $2,500 from Corolla Pizza.
“I was amazed by how quickly our small community could come together to share, donate and reach out to others with the GoFundMe and every other fundraiser. I wish all of the things people are doing for her could be put into this story, but that would make it 50 pages long,” junior Kaitlin McCarter said. “I’m so glad we have a community like this one to raise money for our best friend Tatum. She is such a kind, funny and all around incredible person.”
The GoFundMe is currently above $100,000 and has 1.6K donors and 4.3K shares. There are now four donations greater than $1,000.
After creating the GoFundMe, McKenna wanted to do more. So, she decided to reach out to Joe Ausband of “Identify Yourself” to create T-shirts and stickers for Love, with a blue butterfly and a Spotify QR Code to a playlist with all of her favorite songs.
“So far the shirt and sticker sales have made almost $1,500 from the first order, but there is still more time to sell more and increase that number,” McKenna explained. “All shirt and sticker orders come to me first and I will have a table setup in my driveway with every (local) order out and ready to be picked up. Anyone who needs their order delivered or shipped, we will take care of.”
You can order T-shirts and stickers at https://tatumlove.orderpromos.com/. The shirts cost $25 and the stickers cost $5: all net proceeds go to Love and her family.
Slice Pizzeria also held a fundraiser, as Tatum’s dad, Billy Love, is their food sales representative.
“This community has always supported Slice Pizzeria from day one and we will always support them back,” co-owner Elizabeth Cubler said. “Tatum’s dad, Billy, is our friend, and their family is part of our community. It makes us feel good to be able to help this strong and loving place we call home. It makes it so easy to give back!”
Slice donated $10 for every 16-inch pizza sold. At the end of the night, 690 pizzas were sold with an additional $1,390 in cash donations, totaling a $8,290 donation to the Tatum Love Fundraiser.
“(We) are continuously amazed by how the Outer Banks community is always there when an individual or business needs help, making it a great place to live and work,” Cubler said.
Alongside Slice, Treehouse Coffee Company had a “Biscuits for Tatum” fundraiser. Leading up to Feb. 6, biscuits could be ordered for pick up or delivery, and they ended up selling almost 300 biscuits.
“We love our beach community and how much we come together for each other in a time of need,” Treehouse said on its Instagram.
In addition, First Flight alumna Caroline Murray created her own fundraiser, selling blue butterfly earrings on her Instagram.
In October, she made earrings as a way to fundraise at the University of Florida for an organization she is involved in called Dance Marathon. It was a successful fundraiser, and shortly after the accident, she found a pair of butterfly earrings.
“Anyone who knows Tatum knows how fun and fashionable she is with her jewelry, so it was perfect. I felt helpless as I’m sure many of us were, being far away and unsure how to help, so turning to fundraise was the Outer Banks community’s first reaction and they blew it out of the water,” Murray said. “I feel like the community came together so beautifully that I could feel the love all the way down here in Florida!”
Murray had roughly 60 individual orders – some purchases running from one to five pairs – raising about $500.
“It was so cool to recognize so many names but also to not know some. I sent them all over Virginia and North Carolina and some people donated more than the original $7,” Murray said. “I’ve always known Tatum to be able to light up any room or field, and I hope those who wear the earrings feel that confidence and keep her in their thoughts as she stays strong in the recovery process.”
On top of all of these fundraisers, Chili Peppers Coastal Grill had a burrito fundraiser for Tatum on Feb. 16, selling all of their famous burritos for $12.
Another First Flight alumna, Ellie Gardill, put out “Just for Love: A Reminder to Drive Safely!” blue ribbons for Tatum at some of her favorite spots: East Dogwood Trail beach access, Windgrass Circle Park and Glenmere Avenue beach access.
The ribbon boxes said, “Blue ribbons will be displayed around the Outer Banks. When you see one, think positive thoughts for Tatum and remember to do the things you need to do to drive safely. Also, pick up a small blue ribbon and tie it somewhere in your car or on your key chain as a reminder that Love is Strong and that we should do the right thing, if for nothing else – Just for Love!”
Tatum’s teammates on the women’s lacrosse team also got sweatshirts to support Tatum. Extras were ordered, and are being sold for $34. Contact either of the lacrosse team coaches, Steve Morris and Sandy Eans, text Ellie Gardill at (814) 915-0941 or direct message the Women’s Lacrosse Instagram page, ffhsglax, if interested.
“This is what I love about the Outer Banks,” Murray said. “People are always willing to go above and beyond to support each other no matter where you are.”
For updates on Tatum’s condition visit https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/tatumthelovefamily
Junior Fiona Finchem can be reached at 22finchemfi99@daretolearn.org.
