When traumatic things happen, nothing soothes quite like a hug from your mom. Michigan State University mom and alumna Heather Sertic felt that sentiment strongly after the February 13 shooting on campus left three dead and five injured. She knew students would need support when they returned to campus.
She, along with other moms and grandmas, showed up to welcome thousands of students back to the East Lansing campus with signs reading, “Free Mom Hugs” and “Grandma Hugs.”
Many students are feeling anxious.
Sertic knew students would need help. The '99 alumna was talking to her daughter throughout the shooting and keeping tabs on her nephew. While both of them were safe, it was a nightmare scenario to live through.
Sertic told ABC that she found herself struggling mentally and noticed her daughter was anxious when she spoke about going back to school.
There is no normal.
Michigan State University’s interim provost, Thomas Jeitschko, shared with ABC that reopening school does not mean resuming normal operations.
He said: "We know that everybody heals at their own pace and in their own manner. But we will do the best we can and support each other.”
Alexis Travis, assistant provost and executive director for health and well-being, told ABC she “anticipates many students who witnessed the shooting and the panic that ensued, may experience post traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, grief and anger.”
With a few days to go before classes resumed, Sertic posted a plea to a Michigan State parents Facebook page. Sertic was determined to do something, knowing that if her daughter felt anxious, other students might be feeling the same way.
"I threw an idea out to this parents' association group and said, 'What if we got together and set up a table and a tent and we had some snacks, whatever we can come up with, and we're just there to show the students we support them and we care for them? We can give them hugs if they want hugs,'" she explained.
There's no 'I' in team.
Sertic told ABC that Michigan State parents were motivated to help, volunteering to help in-person and reaching out to businesses and companies for donations. Between cash and product donations (food, gift cards, and toiletries), the group raised over $30,000.
She credits the parent volunteers and businesses for making the warm welcome of approximately 10,000 come to life.
"The generosity and the amount of love and compassion that [everyone] showed in jumping in to support this really helped make this possible." The mom of four said she knows the hugs and free things won’t fix grief or loss, or make things “go back to normal,” but she hopes they showed the kids there are people supporting them.
Students were touched by the moms' efforts.
The student response was overwhelming. “Students would typically burst into tears. What we heard most was, 'Thank you for caring about me. Thank you for making us feel safe," Sertic, who lives in Travis City, Michigan, said.
"My goal initially was just to make one kid smile … as I thought about it throughout the day on Monday … That's what it turned into, taking the damage that one person did and turning it into [something] positive from so many people."
