For over 30 years, Rae Deschamps has knitted hats and mittens for the grade-school children at Alberton School. Monday, Dec. 14, was no exception. Armed with a basket full of colorfully knitted apparel, Rae visited kindergarten, and grades one through three.

“I try to get a good mix of colors for the boys and the girls,” Deschamps said, “and some of the kids like mittens instead of hats and so I have a few of those, too.”

In each class, the kids gather around her in anticipation. They shuffle through the piles of bright colors of yellow, pink and baby blue. Along with maroon and white, hunter green and gold hats, each choosing one to his or her liking.

Deschamps said she loves doing this for the kids and looks forward to it every year.

This year had an added bonus, as PBS Producer Gus Chambers tagged along. He’s is working on a segment about Deschamps for “Backroads of Montana,” a program produced by Montana PBS, which will air this spring.