Oakwood sixth grader using personal loss to help others with grief
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OAKWOOD, Ill. (WCIA) — One Oakwood sixth grader is using her own experience with loss to help other kids going through the same thing.

Twelve-year-old Layton Spalding is the founder of “Light the Way.” The organization brings support and comfort to children going through grief from losing a parent. The nationwide effort delivers baskets of books, toys and other comfort items that helped Spalding through the loss of her dad in 2017.

She was in Kansas City dropping off baskets on Friday.

“Childhood grief, it is so important and not that focused on, so I like to do my part and deliver the baskets to them,” Spalding said. “So, it’ll really help them to feel this grief and try to help them process it and know what they’re going through.”

Spalding said her goal is to bring “Light the Way” to all 50 states. She has personally hand-delivered baskets to children in 22 states so far.

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