Little Hats, Big Hearts™ 2018 Campaign Launches in Nebraska

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 2018), as a part of the national Little Hats, Big Hearts™ project. Sponsored by Union Bank & Trust in Lincoln, Little Hats, Big Hearts™ 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 110 babies.

Hats will be given to each baby born in February at participating hospitals across the state. Hospitals that have already confirmed their participation can be found at: www.heart.org/littlehatsbighearts/

Last year, Nebraska participated in the project for the second time, distributing approximately 2,000 hats statewide and in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

The American Heart Association is working with both the mother-baby units and Neonatal Intensive Care Units in hospitals 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) no later than Jan. 13. In-person donations can be made during regular business hours at the offices in Lincoln and Omaha (9900 Nicholas Street, Suite 200, Omaha, NE 68114).