Meet Bernie's Family & Friends

Sometimes, we all just need our mom.

Or our dad, or a good supportive friend to show they care. To that end, two Siena moms created an outreach program to bring kindness to Siena students.

Kim LeBlanc of upstate New York and Ali Barragato of Long Island both have kids at Siena. LeBlanc also has a daughter at North Carolina State University, and when she visited last year, she learned about a group there called Free Moms. Their goal is "to create a haven of unconditional love and acceptance for the students" through sharing treats, celebrations and hugs. LeBlanc knew right away she wanted to bring this to Siena.

She posted her idea on the Siena Parents Facebook page, and that's where she connected with Barragato. (The pair later found out their kids knew each other already.) Together they developed a pitch to President Chuck Seifert, Ph.D. and within 24 hours the Siena Experience Team was on it.

The group is called Bernie's Family & Friends (BFFs for short) and moms, dads, alumni and all Saints supporters are welcome to take part. BFF debuted with a table on campus toward the end of the last academic year, as students were gearing up for finals. This August on freshman move-in day, they provided "Saint Sidekicks" (homegrown greenery in a decorated yellow cup) and other treats. The following week at the club fair they had a table encouraging all students to "Just Bee" and gave away items that started with the letter B, as well as pocket cards that read "Proud to BEE a Saint."

"The response was insane but in a wonderful way," said LeBlanc. "We gave away 263 cards in just over an hour. We're getting a following."

"It's so nice to make these connections," said Barragato. "The students know they will be able to see a parent figure on campus that they can talk to."

BFF plans to have at least one event on campus each month, with hopes for more in the future as momentum grows. A friendly face, a hello and a mental health boost can make all the difference for students. With events planned throughout the year, Bernie's Family & Friends is helping Siena students feel a little more at home, one kind gesture at a time.