Heather Monty is Bedford’s mad hatter. About five years ago, Monty began to sew fleece hats, and since then she has helped keep heads warm around the globe.

Monty, now a junior at The Derryfield School, started sewing the hats when, as a middle school student, she became aware of how many children need warm clothing every winter. She continued the project alone until she realized just how much work went into finding locations to donate to.

“I’ve always been really creative in art and sewing and loved those kind of things, and working with people. When I got older I wanted to put those things together,” said Monty, whose first donation was to Goffstown Elementary School. “The feedback I got was really good. I realized I was helping kids who were close to my age and made me want to go for it.”

She enlisted the help of Ross A. Lurgio seventhand eighth-graders and now works on the administrative side of the project while the students help sew the hats. In addition to the many bolts of fleece that Monty received through donations, the students have also donated fleece from their own school sewing projects.

As the initiative grew, so did the distances Monty’s creations traveled.

Monty’s HATS (Helping Across The Seas) has shipped have reached orphanages in Lithuania, Romania, Nepal, Zimbabwe and charity organizations within the United States. Many of these children receive hats through mission trips and individual shipments.

Often, hats are placed through word of mouth such as when Ms. Mullen of Lurgio Middle School delivered hats through a relative in the Peace Corps. Children have often sent letters and cards to Monty, who keeps a binder of the corresppondences receives.

“I think it’s amazing because there are so many differences with different cultures that can be hard to get around,” said Monty. “I don’t have to speak their language. I’m helping people I may never meet, but we have a connection.”

The most memorable feedback Monty received came after a recent donation to an Ohio elementary school – a large piece of paper with notes from each student and drawings of themselves holding her hand.

Monty said she is even more proud of the project because she has been able to incorporate Bedford students as well.

“That makes me even happier to know that there are more kids helping. It’s youth helping youth,” she said. “I met some students who are working on the hats, and they seem so interested in the program.”

In addition to time management and leadership skills, Monty said she has developed a great deal of communication skills, as she has worked with several large businesses to locate places to donate and to help find companies willing to give supplies.

Monty plans to continue her efforts through college, and also thinks it could be possible that she finds a career similar to what she’s doing now.

Finding a passion at such a young age is something Monty she has benefited from, and she is glad this experience coincides with volunteer work.

“I think everyone has their own personal method of how they can help other people,” said Monty. “I think it’s good that I have been able to find that early on and turn it into something very personal to me. I’ve tailored this to be something I love.”

Those interested in including hats on their next mission trip or have a suggestion for this service, contact Heather at hats.help@comcast.net