19 Feb 2021

Former staff member warms heads and hearts with hand-knit hats

FARMINGTON, ME  (February 19, 2021)—Katharine (Katie) Wattles from New Vineyard is soon to be 96 years young and still eager to make a difference in the community. She thinks fondly of her time at the University of Maine at Farmington where she worked for nearly 20 years in both classified and professional roles.

Katie fills totes full of hand-knit hats that Keenan Farwell, director of UMF Facilities Management and her grandson-in-law, then brings to campus and makes available to students, staff and faculty at the Covid testing sights, free of charge.

(Left to right) Brianna Hinkley, UMF senior from Kingfield and Peer Care Manager at UMF Covid Testing sight helps Page Brown, UMF senior from Boothbay, select her favorite hat from a huge assortment, with Keenan Farwell, director of UMF Facilities Management. (Left to right) Brianna Hinkley, UMF senior from Kingfield and Peer Care Manager at UMF Covid Testing sight helps Page Brown, UMF senior from Boothbay, select her favorite hat from a huge assortment, with Keenan Farwell, director of UMF Facilities Management.

To date, Katie has knit 250-and-counting hats for campus members, a gesture that during these challenging times warms heads and hearts! You can read more about Katie and her generous efforts in a recent Sun Journal article.

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