Jay Otrhalik, 78, could choose to sit in front of her television watching soap operas all day in her Leetsdale Manor apartment.

But, she doesn't.

Instead, the winner of Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) of Allegheny County Outstanding Volunteer in Health Service Award sometimes works 70 hours a week for her nonprofit organization, "Project of Love," and never sees a paycheck.

She and 10 other volunteers say the work is well worth it to make more than 5,000 pillows and turbans every year, which give comfort and joy to cancer patients, abused children and others.

"I have 11 albums full of thank you cards. Sometimes I re-read them when I'm feeling depressed," Otrhalik said.

Even when she makes a mistake, her efforts don't go unnoticed.

"We accidentally sent the Good Samaritan Hospice Center children's pillows. So, they gave them to the kids at their camp and sent us a thank you letter," she said.

On average, the ladies make about 140 pillows each week, with a record of 200.

"And, we are all in pain here," Otrhalik said, referring to stiff hands and aching joints in women ranging in age from 68 to 85.

"Everyone is hurting somewhere, but we are doing something for people who are worse off than us."

Otrhalik said the project could not be as successful without the volunteers, some who attended the RSVP award ceremony with her last month.

Otrhalik said she was honored just to be a finalist and was on "cloud 9," when her name was announced as a winner.

The trophy clock she received, engraved with her name and the name of the award, usually is displayed in the middle of her dining room table. But last week, she brought it to the organization's weekly, five-hour, pillow-making session at Leetsdale Manor.

Taking a moment to rest at one of the few tables not overtaken with sewing machines, material and stuffing, Otrhalik said she began preparing for the day at 5:30 a.m. for the ladies who start work at 9 a.m.

Aside from getting the coffee ready and making her homemade soup for lunch, Otrhalik sews some of the pillow covers ahead of time and makes most of the turbans on her own. Every year, she also throws a big party for the volunteers to celebrate the program's success.

Otrhalik said she is proud of what her organization has accomplished over the years, but she is a little worried about its future, especially now that Walmart no longer sells the discounted materials for the pillows.

The organization spends close to $7,000 a year, with $4,000 of that donated by Valley Care Association. The rest comes from those who send checks after receiving pillows and other donations.

"Usually there is money left over at the end of year, but not this year. We are down to $200 right now," Otrhalik said.

"I remember when we used to cry when we would get a $100 donation."

Her first donation was $185, given in 2001 by those who attended a Leetsdale Manor council meeting when Otrhalik first announced she was starting the project.

That was the year following a diagnosis of throat cancer for Otrhalik's son-in-law, Donald Zehnder, who now is cancer free. His illness and an article in "Guideposts" prompted Otrhalik to give back.

The article told of a woman who had lost her husband to cancer and was making turbans for cancer patients. When she ordered the turban patterns, she also got a pattern for the pillows.

It was Otrhalik's daughter, Joanne, Donald's wife, who nominated her for the award.

"She has given many people going through something horrible a small piece of comfort, and making them feel more comfortable is what she does best. Her selfless acts of love make Project to Love what it is today," Joanne said.

Pillows make their way to four hospice centers, two dialysis centers, six hospitals, two cancer centers, Department of Human Services for child abuse cases, UPMC oncology unit in Moon and Medical Center Clinic in New Castle.

Just recently one of the pillows made it to Iraq, traveling with the daughter of a recovering cancer patient.

But the patients and their families aren't the only ones who find comfort and joy through the organization.

The organization also creates a bond among the volunteers.

"We all laugh so much," said Virginia Bufalini, a nine-year volunteer.

"It's fantastic. It's like an assembly line. Everybody knows their job. We all get along," said Mary Krithinithis, another volunteer.

Otrhalik agreed.

"We have a ball. There's a lot of fellowship, and that's the key to making it work. We have a nice crew here."

Donations can be sent to Project of Love, Apartment 808, 27 Spencer St., Leetsdale, PA, 15056.