LEBANON — Last spring, Amy Woodruff’s apparel construction students at Lebanon High School sewed 45 pairs of pajamas for children at Christ Hope Orphanage in Tanzania.

The children were so pleased to get them, and the Lebanon students had such a good time with the project, that Woodruff didn’t hesitate when she heard the orphanage could also use child-size quilts and baby receiving blankets.

That’s now the project for her two beginning apparel construction classes, who will be working on the blankets between now and the end of January.

“The more colorful the better,” Woodruff said, indicating donated fabric with bright balloons, hearts and airplanes. “The children just really love the color.”

Kathlyn McConnell, 16, chose quilt fabric with smiling zoo animals on a background of bright green, then paired it with palest pink for the back. “I like how the ears match,” she said, indicating the inside of the animals’ pale pink ears.

The 24 students in each of Woodruff’s classes also have their regular classwork to do, but the quilts count as community service hours, which are required for graduation.

Besides, said Lyubov Prokopovych, 15, it’s fun to help others.

“I just like to sew, and I thought it would be nice to help kids out that don’t have any parents,” said the Ukraine native, a sophomore. “When I’m older, if I have a lot of money, I’d like to help a lot of orphanages out.”

Miranda Bailey-Darby, 15, said she feels the same way. The sophomore will turn 16 Tuesday and plans to use any birthday money she might receive for quilting fabric for the project.

Why? She wants to help, she said, and sewing class is a wonderful stress reliever.

“I don’t really need anything for my birthday, at all,” she said with a smile.

Woodruff’s class became involved with the orphanage through Jan George and Jeanie Hart, fellow and former district employees, who belong to International Evangelism Outreach Ministry. The nonprofit group works with the orphanage and the two asked Woodruff for help with the pajama project when Hart fell ill.

Woodruff hopes to continue the service project in coming years. “Whatever they need is what we’ll help them with,” she said.

Plenty of fabric for the quilts and receiving blankets has been donated, but the class could use batting and flannel to finish the project, Woodruff said. Donors can contact her at the school, (541) 451-8555, ext. 1107.