By Janet Wetzel
Enquirer contributor

Glenn Custis plays the crochet hook like a symphony orchestra conductor.

Glenn Custis crochets hats for newborns. (Photo provided)

His 86-year-old fingers make magic with a skein of yarn as he churns out tiny hats for newborns at Clinton Memorial Hospital. The Wilmington resident and retired farmer has made more than 200 dozen hats and has logged more than 18,000 volunteer hours since he started helping Clinton Memorial in 1976.

Custis learned to crochet about 50 years ago when someone gave his wife yarn, needles and a guide book. So when he heard of the hospital hat program, he jumped right in.

"I just picked up some yarn and started doing it. I've been crocheting ever since," he says. "I started with doilies, then I graduated to afghans. I made a couple of big projects - a bedspread and a wall plaque of the Last Supper ... took a year or more."

Beyond the crochet work, Custis has delivered Meals-on-Wheels and worked with an area hospice. He still drives patients to chemotherapy sessions as a volunteer for the American Cancer Society.

While he waits up to five hours for patients to complete their treatments, Custis uses the time to crochet more baby hats.

"I like the idea of taking yarn and creating something out of it. And it makes me feel good to know I'm giving these little newborn babies a warm hat," says Custis. "The Lord told us to be out there helping people. That's what I'm trying to do."

Custis is a Gideon who attends Calvary Baptist Church in Wilmington. He is twice widowed with one son and one grandson.

Carol Sebert, volunteer coordinator at Clinton Memorial praises Custis' dedication. "He's been invaluable to us," she says. "His contributions are amazing. And he just keeps right on giving."

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Do you know a Hometown Hero - someone in your community dedicated to making it a better place to live and helping others? E-mail Janet Wetzel at jjwetzel@siscom.net or fax to 513-755-4150.