In August 2018, two of the founder’s friends lost their daughter Zoe, who was born prematurely. Jen Lofquist, an avid knitter, and crocheter decided to make preemie hats for the hospital where Zoe lived her all-too-brief life. She asked some friends if they’d like to make some hats too. That November, Hats for Zoe delivered 86 hats to one hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
In 2022, Hats for Zoe collected 2092 hats—as well as blankets, booties, and toys—and made deliveries to ten area NICUs and any other organization in need.