KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The American Heart Association is calling on knitting and crocheting enthusiasts to get to work for a good cause.
The organization is looking for volunteers to knit or crochet infant-sized hats to support the third-annual Little Hats, Big Hearts program.
“The whole point of the Little Hats, Big Hearts campaign is to raise awareness, first of all, for heart month in the month of February, as well as with newborn babies,” said Katie Erpenbach with the American Heart Association. “Heart defects are the number one defect in children; and then for new mom’s, to bring awareness to their health as well.”
These little hats are knit or crocheted by volunteers all over the world.
“Sometime’s it’s groups,” said Erpenbach. “We are getting them from schools, from retirees. It’s all completely volunteer based and people are mailing them in from not just East Tennessee but surrounding states and even someone’s been sending some from Germany as well.”
Donated hats should be made with red cotton or acrylic yarns of medium to heavy-weight. The yarn should be machine washable and dryable.
They’re also accepting yarn donation.
Hats and yarn donations should be sent to the American Heart Association at 4708 Papermill Dr, Knoxville, TN 37909. Hospitals will not accept donations directly.
Participating hospitals in East Tennessee include UT Medical Center, Covenant Health, Tennova, Cookeville Regional Medical Center and Mountain States Health Alliance.Click here for more information.
