Steps for Samuel Honors Pregnancy Loss Families
The 14th annual remembrance walk at Lover's Lane Soccer Complex drew families grieving pregnancy and infant loss in Bowling Green.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Philanthropy
Steps for Samuel hosted its 14th annual pregnancy and infant loss remembrance walk at Lover's Lane Soccer Complex on Oct. 15. Grieving families and support groups planted trees in dedication to their children, and the walk ended with a candlelit vigil.
Why it matters
The walk gives families a public space to memorialize children lost during pregnancy or shortly after birth, a grief that is often less visible in the community. Steps for Samuel, which started in 2013, continues to expand its support for families locally.
Steps for Samuel's 14th annual walk marked the event's longevity, and a Chipotle proceeds night on Nov. 7 will send 20% of sales to the group. Attendance and total funds raised from the walk were not reported.
The players
Steps for Samuel
A nonprofit organization focused on pregnancy and infant loss awareness, founded in 2013 and based in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
Julie McCoy
Vice president of Steps for Samuel and owner of McCoy Counseling in Bowling Green, whose son Samuel was lost at 20 weeks of pregnancy.
Sigma Phi Epsilon
A fraternity at WKU whose members spoke at the vigil and volunteered to set up the walk.
The details
The walk began with tree dedications and ended with a candlelit vigil, with Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity members speaking at the vigil and helping set up the event. The organization also delivers Comfort Kits to the Medical Center at Bowling Green for parents and siblings of stillborn babies.
Timeline
2013: Steps for Samuel was founded after Samuel McCoy's loss.
Oct. 15: The 14th annual remembrance walk was held at Lover's Lane Soccer Complex.
Nov. 7: TopperSocial will host a proceeds night at Chipotle, with 20% of proceeds going to the organization.
Market Landscape
Community pregnancy-loss support in Bowling Green is expanding beyond counseling into public memorials, as seen in the Kentucky Museum's Nora's Nook section of its ofrenda. Steps for Samuel's annual walk and Little Angels Attic consignment program at Broadway United Methodist Church reflect the same pattern of local institutions building durable support networks.
Residents who want to support Steps for Samuel can attend the Nov. 7 Chipotle proceeds night, where 20% of proceeds go to the organization. Families seeking pregnancy or infant loss support may also look to the group's Comfort Kit program for parents and siblings of stillborn babies.
The takeaway
Pregnancy and infant loss remain largely private griefs, and public remembrance events like this one give families a structured way to honor their children. Community members can offer support by attending local fundraisers or connecting families with resources such as Steps for Samuel.
What happens next
Steps for Samuel plans to hold a holiday event, and the Nov. 7 Chipotle proceeds night will direct 20% of proceeds to the organization.
Further reading
Explore more philanthropy coverage for other Bowling Green nonprofit efforts and community fundraising.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WKUHerald.
