'Loving Laiton' craft fair Saturday to benefit Topeka boy with autism
Fair will be held at Christ Lutheran Church
The fourth annual “Loving Laiton” craft fair, set for this weekend at a south Topeka church, will benefit a young Topeka boy who has autism.
Organizers said the event will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at Christ Lutheran Church, 3509 S.W. Burlingame Road.
Proceeds from the craft sale will be used to defray medical expenses for Laiton Walters, 5, of Topeka, who has autism. He is the son of B.J. and Carolyn Walters.
Monies raised also will go toward purchasing a therapy dog for Laiton, in addition to medical equipment.
Additional funds raised at the sale will be donated to the Autism Speaks organization.
Laiton’s grandmother, Janet Smith, is helping organize the sale. She said a record number of vendors is expected this weekend.
“We are packed to the rim, which is really good,” she said. “We’ve expanded out from the gym to the lobby of the church.”
Smith said the sale will have “a lot repeat vendors and a lot of new ones.”
“I think the traffic’s really good for the vendors,” she said, “so they make some money for themselves and we raise some money for Laiton, so it’s a win-win.”
The sale will include a variety of holiday gifts, home decor and edible treats.
“It helps out a lot,” Carolyn Walters, Laiton’s mother, said of the sale, “so we look forward to it every year.”
A multi-family garage sale, held each of the past two years, has raised additional funds for Laiton’s medical needs.