Thanks to the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, children at Northwest Montana Head Start might be a little bit warmer this winter.

More than 30 volunteers donated hundreds of hours of time to knit, crochet, quilt and sew winter items for the 200-plus students at Head Start on Monday morning.

Each child left school that day with a matching pair of hats and mittens they can leave at school. More than 1,000 items were lovingly crafted by the senior volunteer program, a part of the Agency on Aging.

But Head Start wasn’t the only place to benefit from the winter wear made by the volunteers.

Leslie Potter, one of the volunteer organizers for he program, said elementary schools in the Flathead Valley would receive matching hats and mittens as well.

North Valley Hospital and Kalispell Regional Medical Center will receive baby hats, booties, bibs and baby blankets for their birthing centers. Nursing homes will get blankets and afghans.

The Abbie Shelter and Hope Pregnancy Resource Center also will receive handmade items.

One volunteer, Phillis Edmiston, made 86 hats in honor of her 86th birthday.

The reason RSVP makes all the winter gear is part of a push by Winter Ready Montana, a call to service by the Governor’s Office of Community Service. Winter Ready encourages Montanans to help neighbors and vulnerable populations get through the cold winter.

For more information or to help make or donate winter gear, contact RSVP at 758-5712.

Reporter Ryan Murray may be reached at 758-4436 or by email at [email protected].