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But a special human touch goes into making the treasured hats, which families choose from large bins in the hospital when their children are born.

Nancy Robertson of Braddock Heights is one of a crew of volunteer knitters who ensure that every baby born at Frederick Memorial Hospital receives a handmade hat to wear during his or her stay in the maternity ward.

She discovered that she could put her knitting and crocheting skills — which she also uses to make blankets, purses and shawl for herself and friends — to good use making the hats.

"I just wanted to give back. I had some connections to the hospital, and I was looking to give back to the community and this is really enjoyable and rewarding," she said. "I'm in a knitting group, and one of the girls told me you can knit hats here, so I inquired and got a pattern. Every family gets a hat for the newborns."

Though the hat-making is probably the most visible part of her volunteer work, Robertson, 57, also helps in other ways at the hospital and in the community. She tends the information desk as a volunteer at Frederick Memorial Hospital, where she wears the ubiquitous green vest and helps visitors.

She also takes part in an American Cancer Society program called Road to Recovery in which she donates her time, vehicle and gas to drive cancer patients to treatment appointments.

Laurie Frey, Frederick community manager for the cancer society, said the program, which she described as "lifesaving," is one that truly helps patients in need, and said Robertson is a dedicated volunteer.

"They are willing to use their vehicles and their gas, and patients are always amazed that we have volunteers who are willing to do this for them," she said. "… [The volunteers] are wonderful. They connect to the patients and they really create relationships with the patients they drive."

E-mail Connor Adams Sheets at csheets@gazette.net.