The women of the Great Hills Knitting group (dubbed the “Knit Wits” by one member's husband) are getting crafty in the name of charity.

The ladies, who meet weekly at the Great Hills Estate clubhouse to knit, are a lively and giving bunch, and they are putting their formidable knitting skills to work.

This month, the knitting group donated 170 hats to the Wareham Police Department, who have helped distribute the hats to individuals and organizations in need during their Hats for the Holidays charity drive.

The woman in charge of the knitting group, Sheila Monaghan, knew that the police “had a program [the Nights of Hospitality] where they would pick up the homeless on cold nights,” and she wanted to help the area’s homeless if only by keeping their heads warm. Officer Zina Kelsch has been very hands-on with the project, delivering hats (as well as gloves and mittens) to places such as the Wareham WIC office, Damien’s Food Pantry, the Kendrick House, and local daycare facilities.

Monaghan said she currently has more hats than she knows what to do with, and she is looking for more organizations who help low-income and homeless people and who could get the hats and gloves on to the heads and hands that are in need. She has already expanded into Falmouth, donating hats and gloves to the Gosnold rehabilitation clinic.

Monaghan is adamant about not wanting organizations who receive the knitting group’s products trying to make a profit.

“We don’t want people selling the hats…we want them in the hands of people who need them,” she said.

Although the ladies find joy in helping out those less fortunate than themselves, Monaghan says that the camaraderie of the group is also a great perk. “Anything that gets people out and socializing is good for us.”

Individuals who would like to donate yarn, hats, or gloves,  and organizations who can get these items to the people that need them, can contact Shelia Monaghan at 508-273-7308 or shmonaghan@comcast.net.