Independence veteran honors mother with project to donate 500 handmade baby hats

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. — An Army veteran in Independence, Missouri says every hat he crochets, while ultimately meant for newborns and premature babies, is in honor of his mother’s memory, and he’s crocheted hundreds of hats.

On Wednesday, Patrick McVey donated more than 100 hand crocheted hats for babies and premies at Children’s Mercy Hospital.

It’s the second time he’s made such a donation. It’s his goal to donate 500.

The project started when a couple at his church had a baby and he wanted to give them something.

His mother used to knit blankets for those occasions but he never learned before she passed.

“If there’s something an elderly member in your family knows how to do, take the time. Spend the time with them to learn how to do that because it’s priceless,” he said.

McVey says a member of his retirement community taught him how to crochet the hats he works on now and he’s passing the skill on to others.

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