Volunteers needed for 'Little Hats, Big Hearts' program to knit newborn hats

If you've got knitting or crocheting skills, the American Heart Association wants your help to keep newborns warm.

In collaboration with The Children's Heart Foundation, the program called "Little Hats, Big Hearts aims to promote awareness about heart disease and congenital heart defects.

The program calls on volunteers to begin crocheting or knitting red hats for babies that are due this February, which is designated as American Heart Month.

"Little Hats, Big Hearts" first began collecting hats for newborns in 2014 in Chicago and warmed 300 little heads that first year.

It has since expanded to 40 states, providing tiny hats to thousands of newborns.

Here in the Bay Area, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital is participating in the program.

For those who may not be skilled in the art of knitting or crocheting you can participate by donating red yarn.

As part of the program, volunteers are asked to use cotton or acrylic yarn to make the hats.

The yarn should also be medium to heavy weight and machine washable and dryer friendly.

The American Heart Association says "Little Hats, Big Hearts" seeks to celebrate babies and empower mothers to live heart healthy lives and help their children do the same.