Sue Jackson had an idea while reading her church newsletter to serve the students at Pennsylvania State University and ran it by her friend Lori Rose. The ladies set up a stand on the campus with a sign that reads “Ask A Mom” where they offer free advice and hand out homemade cookies to anyone who needs a motherly influence.
Every Wednesday, the Penn State moms set up shop at a well-traveled spot on the school’s University Park campus and provide support and much-appreciated advice to anyone who needs it. “Our goal for ourselves is to love God and love our neighbors, to show kindness to others, and to provide an opportunity for students to talk to an older woman when their own mom isn’t readily available. It’s also as simple as giving students the opportunity to pet a dog and have a cookie with no strings attached, just to brighten their day.”
The ladies plan to continue their “Ask A Mom” stand for as long as the weather and their schedules allow and say it’s been satisfying to get to connect with so many students. “We love listening to students and hearing about their lives. If you watch too much news, you would think people are hating each other and that divisiveness is all that exists,” Rose says. “Our experience is that people want a human connection and that kindness is sometimes a surprise and always welcome.”