GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A Grand Rapids nonprofit that helps kids who have experienced loss showcased its services to the community.

Ele’s Place of West Michigan held an open house Thursday on Children’s Grief Awareness Day.

The organization’s mission is to ensure no child has to grieve alone. It offers grief centers for kids and teens ages 3 to 18. It gives young people an opportunity to talk to each other about the feelings they’re experiencing.

Jennifer Howard, president and CEO of Ele’s Place, said that 1 in 11 children ages 3 to 18 will face the loss of a parent or sibling.

“Kids, depending on the developmental stage that they’re in, will grieve differently and express themselves in different ways. And we can work with parents or teachers or others in the community to help them understand some of the signs that they’re seeing and to help teach them how to help a child that’s in that situation,” Howard said.

Ele’s Place, founded more than 30 years ago, also has branches in Lansing and Ann Arbor.