Hats collected for Arkansas Children’s Hospital at Mad Hatter’s Tea Party

November 15, 2022 at 7:10 a.m.

by Susan Holland

Westside Eagle Observer/SUSAN HOLLAND Guests at the Mad Hatters Tea Party Sunday afternoon, Oct. 30, work on making hats to be worn by patients at Arkansas Children's Hospital. About 20 people participated in the event held at the First Christian Church in Gravette. A total of 362 hats and nine baby blankets were delivered to the hospital. The project was started 15 years ago by Dr. Nancy Jones and her Girl Scout troop.
Westside Eagle Observer/SUSAN HOLLAND Guests at the Mad Hatters Tea Party Sunday afternoon, Oct. 30, work on making hats to be worn by patients at Arkansas Children's Hospital. About 20 people participated in the event held at the First Christian Church in Gravette. A total of 362 hats and nine baby blankets were delivered to the hospital. The project was started 15 years ago by Dr. Nancy Jones and her Girl Scout troop.

GRAVETTE -- About 20 people gathered at the First Christian Church in Gravette Sunday evening, Oct. 30, for the annual Mad Hatter's Tea Party. Participants enjoy the popular event because it is not just any tea party. It also has a very humanitarian purpose, creating hats for patients at the Arkansas Children's Hospital.

The room was decorated with banners and posters with a Mad Hatter's theme, and a collection of teapots and teacups served as centerpieces on the tables. Guests were treated to cups of hot tea and snacks, including a variety of cookies and breads, cheese and crackers. They sipped their tea as they worked.

Several ladies had made hats at home and brought them to the church to donate for the project, and others created several hats during the event. A total of 362 hats were collected. Joan Denver made and donated nine baby blankets to be included with the hats.

Hats were delivered to the Arkansas Children's Hospital in Springdale, but some will be sent on to the hospital in Little Rock.

"Arkansas Children's Hospital has a project called Knitting for Noggins and accepts hats during the winter months which they pass on to any patient who wants or needs one," said Dr. Nancy Jones, organizer of the event.

Jones started the project 15 years ago when she was the leader of her daughter Rachel's Girl Scout troop. She taught the girls to knit as part of their Scout work, and later the project was expanded to include members of the community.