An old T-shirt can have a new purpose — and for two Orange Beach High School juniors, that purpose is helping a rescue dog.

Brylee Thompson and Lyllian Williams are launching Tees to Tugs, a community service project that turns donated T-shirts into handmade tug toys for local rescue dogs.

The project began after Thompson and Williams were selected as Orange Beach High School’s HOBY Ambassadors and attended the Alabama Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) Seminar at Troy University earlier this year, a news release from the juniors said.

HOBY is a nonprofit youth leadership organization that encourages high school students to develop leadership skills, serve others and become active in their communities. After returning home, the students wanted to put those lessons into practice locally.

“We came home from HOBY wanting to do something that would actually make a difference in our community,” Thompson said in the release.

Tees to Tugs gives community members a simple way to get involved. Participants can donate old T-shirts, help make the toys or simply stop by an event to lend a hand.

“I love that anyone can be a part of this project,” Williams said. “Something as simple as donating an old T-shirt or spending a few minutes making a toy can make a dog’s day a little bit better.”

The first Tees to Tugs event will be held Oct. 3 outside Shades at The Wharf in Orange Beach, a longtime supporter of the local community.

Community members can bring old T-shirts to the event or drop them off beforehand at collection boxes at Orange Beach Public Library and Expect Excellence.

A T-shirt donation is not required to participate. Anyone who wants to help can stop by the event and make a tug toy.

All of the handmade toys will be donated to Angie’s Dog House, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal rescue in Foley.

Tees to Tugs is expected to continue throughout the school year, with additional events planned across the Gulf Coast. The students hope the project will give people of all ages an opportunity to get involved, give back and help local rescue dogs.