While you're busy knitting and crocheting gifts for the upcoming holiday season, consider reaching out to those in need and sharing your skills. Each month Lion Brand features a charity that is asking for you, the knitters and crocheters of the world, to help make a difference. This month, we highlight the Knitting for Noggins program, collecting knit and crochet hats for children of all ages -- and even their parents -- being treated at Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH).

Arkansas Children’s Hospital, located in Little Rock, is the only pediatric hospital in Arkansas as well as one of the largest pediatric hospitals in the country. ACH serves children from newborns up to 21 year-olds. Started in 2007, Knitting for Noggins received over 27,000 hats last year and is aiming for 30,000 for this year.

So far in 2008, Knitting for Noggins has collected over 25,000 knit and crocheted hats for both the children staying at the hospital and their families. They prefer brightly colored and creative looking hats to brighten up the families’ hospital stays. Hats should be about the size of a cantaloupe or bigger, as the hats go to both children and their parents. Patterns are available on ACH's website, or click here to see some great patterns on our Pattern Finder. You are encouraged to be creative and have fun making the hats! Hats should be fun and playful to warm the children's heads and remind them and their families that people care.

Knitting for Noggins asks that hats be odor and pet hair free. For privacy reasons notes cannot be attached to the hats. The hats should only be made out of new yarn, rather than reused materials. For more information on where to mail finished hats, as well as other guidelines, please click here to visit the Knitting for Noggins page on ACH's website.

For any questions about Knitting for Noggins, please contact Volunteer Services at Arkansas Children's Hospital directly.

For more charity opportunities, click for our Charity Connection database.