The American Heart Association is seeking handmade red hats, crocheted or knit, to provide to Nebraska newborns born during the next American Heart Month (February 2016), as a part of the national Little Hats, Big Hearts project, which is coming to Nebraska for the first time this winter. With Little Hats, Big Hearts, the American Heart Association is raising awareness about cardiovascular diseases, the No. 1 killer in the United States, and congenital heart defects, the most common type of birth defect in the country, occurring in one of 100 babies.
The American Heart Association is working with both the mother-baby units and Neonatal Intensive Care Units in hospitals statewide so donations of red hats in both premature and newborn sizes are needed. Because bows and buttons may be a danger to newborn babies, only red hats without decorations can be accepted for Little Hats, Big Hearts. The American Heart Association is also accepting donations of red yarn to help those who will be knitting or crocheting hats. Yarn must be cotton or acrylic, medium to heavy weight and machine washable and dryable.
All mailed-in donations must be received at the American Heart Association’s Greater Nebraska Regional Office in Lincoln (1540 S. 70th Street, Suite 100, Lincoln, NE 68506) by Dec. 31. In-person donations can be made through December during regular business hours at the offices in Lincoln and Omaha (9900 Nicholas Street, Suite 200, Omaha, NE 68114).
Visit www.heart.org/littlehatsbighearts/ for more information. For additional information on American Heart Association events statewide, please contact Jamie Schneider at (402) 810-6851, (402) 915-0955 or Jamie.Schneider@heart.org.