08/09/2026
This month marks one year of our Family Support Program in Willmar which exists to relieve some financial burdens on local immigrant families by providing basic hygiene items every month like toilet paper, deodorant, toothpaste, etc.
Recently, it was just Mayra and I staffing the evening shift, which is common, but it is not common for us to serve 50 families in one evening. Half of them were new and wanting to sign up for the program. To say it was chaotic is an understatement.
At one point we had around 30 people upstairs in our cute, but rustic donation center, with no air conditioning or windows. Mayra was trying to tell me something in Spanish and I was trying to figure out what she was saying, it was interesting to say the least.
I told myself, "I am just going to do what I can, and we will all have to be okay with that and offer each other grace and patience." That is when a family of volunteers walked up the stairs and said, "Hey we saw the cars, do you want some help?" They had been bringing a table to donate and saw the full parking lot. Within minutes, the family had everyone packed up and receiving their items. It was a godsend for sure.
To me this is what Willmar Arrive has always been and continues to be: community coming together, seeing each other, helping each other, carrying each other's burdens, and most of all, showing up for each other even when you aren't asked, it cuts into plans, and especially when it's hard. As our town's moto goes, 'We are Willmar.' We say this because we are a melting pot of beautiful diversity that tries our best to come together and be one town.
These volunteers are just a few of the amazing people that make what we do possible.
-Kirsten is our Administrative Coordinator for the Willmar area
