.png){kind=small}
Walking the Mile Together: A Reflection from United Way of Southwest Minnesota
The other weekend, as I sat in church with my family, something unexpected happened. A hymn I’ve heard countless times before suddenly felt new. Maybe it was the quiet of the sanctuary, or the peaceful weight of my granddaughter on my lap—but when the congregation sang this verse, it reached straight into my heart:
“We are pilgrims on a journey,
we are trav’lers on the road;
We are here to help each other
walk the mile and bear the load.”
Those words lingered with me long after the Mass ended. They expressed something I’ve always believed: we’re not meant to travel life’s road alone. We’re meant to show up for one another, to help steady each other when the path gets steep, and to share the weight when someone’s burden becomes too heavy.
That belief is at the core of why I do what I do. It’s also the heart of United Way of Southwest Minnesota.
Every day, I see how deeply people in our community care for one another. I see generosity that comes quietly, compassion that shows up without fanfare, and neighbors who step in long before being asked. But I also see the struggles—families stretched thin, children facing barriers no child should carry, seniors navigating loneliness, and individuals doing their best while feeling overwhelmed.
Our mission at United Way of Southwest Minnesota is to make sure no one ever feels like they must walk that mile alone. We raise funds so that families can find stability, children can grow with confidence, and individuals can access the essential support they need to move forward. We do this because we believe every person deserves the dignity of feeling seen, supported, and valued—with a community beside them, helping to bear the load.
That hymn verse felt like a reminder—a gentle, emotional nudge—that the work we do matters not just in numbers or outcomes, but in human connection. It reminded me why I’m grateful for every donor, every volunteer, and every community partner who chooses to make this community a little stronger, a little kinder, and a little easier to walk through.
As we look ahead, I carry those lyrics with me. And I am grateful for the way our community continues to live out that spirit—supporting one another, lifting each other up, and walking together, mile by mile and load by load, toward a brighter and better tomorrow.
Meg Louwagie
CEO
United Way of Southwest Minnesota