BLACK FOREST — Out in Black Forest, 97-year-old Vandla Harris spends almost every hour of every day busy at her loom, creating comfortable and colorful hats for those who have fallen on hard times.
The hat making hobby started over a year ago and has resulted in a steady tide of hats that would have easily filled her home, which she shares with family, to bursting if it were not for their diligent donation efforts.
Each hat, represents almost a day of work and goes freely to those without homes, folks fighting cancer, and others going through tough times.
"I think [I do this] because I need to be doing something that's useful," Harris said. "Here, I can give people a blessing, to have a warm hat, but the one that gets the most blessing is me."
She says it helps pass the time and hopes each hat makes someone else feel special.
"She puts others first all the time, no matter what, even if it may be hard for her," said one of Vandla's nieces. "If it's the best way for other people, she puts them before herself."
Vandla hopes and plans to continue her hat based hobby and mission for the rest of her life.
