Westport honors Lee Ann Hughes
City of Westport Honors 92-Year-Old Lee Ann Hughes for Her Selfless Dedication to Children in Need
Mayor Ed Welter awards Lee Ann Hughes
Westport, WA – The City of Westport proudly recognizes resident Lee Ann Hughes, age 92, for her extraordinary dedication to supporting children in need around the world. Since 2017, Lee Ann has crocheted over 400 sweaters—408 to date—for distribution through Samaritan’s Purse, offering warmth and comfort to children living in poverty and affected by crisis. To honor her unwavering commitment, the City of Westport has issued a formal proclamation declaring a day in her honor and celebrating her inspiring impact on the community and beyond.
Lee Ann’s handmade sweaters are part of a broader initiative called Lamb’s Wool, a nonprofit knitting outreach founded in 1997 by Carol M. Ely to provide handmade sweaters to children in need across the globe. Each year, Lamb’s Wool partners with Operation Christmas Child (OCC), a project under Samaritan’s Purse, to include these hand-knitted garments in holiday shoe boxes distributed to children in areas impacted by war, disaster, and economic hardship. Through this partnership, Lee Ann’s sweaters have reached children around the world, offering both physical warmth and a message of compassion.
Lee Ann Hughes donates hand-made sweaters to children in need
“We are incredibly proud to honor Lee Ann Hughes,” said Edward Welter, Mayor of Westport. “Her selfless dedication exemplifies the values we cherish in Westport—kindness, compassion, and a commitment to making the world a better place, one stitch at a time. Lee Ann’s work reminds us all of the power of giving, and it is fitting that we formally recognize her contributions with this proclamation.”
Lee Ann’s story has become an inspiration to many within the Westport community. Her efforts have sparked interest and involvement in similar outreach activities, motivating others to give back in whatever ways they can. The City’s proclamation is a formal acknowledgment of Lee Ann’s lasting legacy and the pride she brings to Westport.