Our Community Work

Bringing Light to Grieving Hearts 💛

Loss is indescribable. When Kaleigh and Allen Glass lost their baby daughter, Emerson Rae, in February 2021, their world forever changed. But from that unimaginable grief, they created something beautiful: the Emerson Rae of Light Foundation.

A Caring Foundation Emerges

Driven by their tragedy, the Glass family started raising awareness and funds to support families facing pregnancy and infant loss. Their first major initiative, Hops for Healing, generated an incredible $80,000—a testament to their community’s love and solidarity ground.news+7wtxl.com+7wtxl.com+7.

A Bereavement Room of Hope

The funds weren’t just for supplies—they carried the promise of healing. Working with Archbold Foundation President Vann Middleton, the Glass family saw an opportunity to build something lasting. On May 1, 2025, Archbold dedicated their new 27,500‑sq‑ft Maternity Center, featuring the peaceful Emerson Rae Glass Bereavement Room:

“A place of peace, love, and light … named in honor of Emerson Rae, whose brief light reminds us that love, though sometimes fleeting, is never lost” 

The Gift of Time: Cuddle Cots

These specialized cooling units are at the core of the foundation’s mission. They preserve a baby’s body, allowing parents precious additional time to say goodbye. In 2021, the Glass family donated the first cuddle cot to Archbold—borrowed from another hospital—so they too could experience that gift of time 

Now, with the raised funds, multiple cuddle cots—each costing around $3,000—will be donated across South Georgia.

What’s Next

Archbold projects the bereavement room will be fully open in the coming months. Meanwhile, the Emerson Rae of Light Foundation continues its mission—donating more cuddle cots, planning awareness events, and spreading gentle light in places of darkness.

❤️ Watch Their Story

You can see this uplifting journey in action in the news clip https://www.wtxl.com/thomasville/thomasville-family-raises-80k-to-provide-cuddle-cots-for-grieving-parents-across-south-georgia

Final Thoughts

What began as unbearable sorrow has blossomed into something profoundly impactful. The Emerson Rae of Light Foundation’s generosity—funding a sanctuary room and essential cuddle cots—offers emotional comfort, dignity, and healing to countless families during their darkest hours. It's a testament to community, compassion, and how one family's light can illuminate the grief of many.

Let us hold space for these families—and for Emerson Rae—whose memory continues to bring peace and love.

If you're inspired to help, reach out to the Emerson Rae of Light Foundation to support future rooms, cuddle cot donations, and bereavement services.