As the pressure of final exams and end-of-year projects begins to mount, a familiar sea of Hoo Needs a Hug T-shirts returned Friday to the University of Virginia. The biannual event, now a staple of the UVA student experience, brought countless parent volunteers to Grounds to offer students a morale boost and sense of home.
“Hoo Needs a Hug made me feel really happy,” second-year student Kelly Reardon said. “It was my first time going, and all the volunteers were incredibly friendly and welcoming. It gave me a good boost during a stressful day.”
Maya Williams, left, and Angela Williams share a hug outside of Newcomb Hall. (Photo by Matt Riley, University Communications)
The event’s origins are rooted in community resilience. Volunteer Kathleen Muhlbauer, a mother of three, including a third-year electrical engineering student, said the program was founded in the wake of the tragic 2022 shooting on Grounds.
A committee of mothers coordinates everything from early morning doughnut runs to mental health support, partnering with local businesses.
Laura Adamic is one of the many volunteers who participated Friday in the spring edition of Hoo Needs a Hug. (Photo by Matt Riley, University Communications)
“There are moms who start as early as 6 in the morning, picking up food for the whole event. Some of us even went up to Carter Mountain Orchard to pick up some apple cider doughnuts, specially made for Hoo Needs a Hug,” Muhlbauer said.
While the Lawn and Newcomb Hall patio remain central hubs for the festivities, volunteers work to ensure the support reaches every corner of the University, including a growing presence at Engineering Way, a site parents specifically requested to support students who rarely have time to cross Grounds.
Sabrin Niamathullah welcomes a hug from one of the volunteers outside of Newcomb Hall. (Photo by Matt Riley, University Communications)
“The kids are really grateful to have us here, and I have enough mothering for probably 100 kids,” Muhlbauer said. “It gives moms comfort to know that another mom cares about their kid, and is there to say, ‘You got this.’”
For volunteers like Becky Hoey, whose son is a third-year psychology student, the event is a testament to the power of a simple, positive interaction.
