In my travels around town, smiling every time I spotted a newly painted fire hydrant in Villa Park, I wondered how they came about.

There were at least two instances I saw a hydrant surrounded by more than one budding young artist working on creating a masterpiece.

To fill you in on what I am writing about, fire hydrants have been popping up all over Villa Park painted by residents allowed to express a theme.

A friend of mine, who is a Villa Park resident, explained to me how something as simple as painting this hydrant has brought families and neighbors together all over Villa Park. Her brother got involved with planning to paint a hydrant with her son, and before you knew it, the neighborhood was out watching the painting and project evolve.

To satisfy my curiosity I contacted the Villa Park Village Hall and spoke with Mary Hornbeck, Administrative Assistant. She explained 13 year old Villa Park resident Joey Egan, who attends Jackson Middle School, proposed a fundraising program to benefit the Villa Park Fire Department.

His plan was to allow residents to adopt a fire hydrant for a sum of money, paint it with a theme in mind, and all proceeds would go to the Villa Park Fire Department. His proposal passed with enthusiasm from everyone.

With over 1,000 fire hydrants in the village, there is some serious money to be made and donated to a cause as worthy as the fire department.

After getting in touch with Egan’s mom Denise, the story behind the young man came out.

With a day off school one day last year, Joey had an accident with his bike. In falling down while on his bike, he broke off his two front teeth. The Villa Park Fire Department came to his rescue and took him to the hospital. For this, he is quite thankful for their quick action.

In the back of his mind, Egan wanted to do something to support the people who came to his rescue. He wanted to raise money for the fire house.

As a member of Saint Alexander’s Church, and making his Confirmation, he was also responsible for a service project.

He approached his mom with the idea of finding out about the cars that were painted in Elmhurst. His mom liked the idea but told him he had to think of something for Villa Park. That’s when he came up with fire hydrants. This would be killing two birds with one stone; making money for the fire house, and fulfilling his requirement for the service project at St. Alexander’s.

Thus, the plan began. Egan first off went to the Villa Park Fire Department to iron out the rules and regulations.

There was not an ordinance prohibiting the color of the paint. In other words, in Villa Park, fire hydrants do not have to be painted red.

Erin Knackstedt, Confidential Administrative Assistant of the Village Hall, informed me that 161 hydrants have been adopted by families, businesses, or corporations to paint, with 100 of them completed.

Village businesses, Wildfire Harley Davidson, LLC Tressler, Inland Bank, Harris Bank, and Attorney Frank DeSalvo donated money for the paint needed to paint the hydrants.

The program is now closed for the season and hopes to renew in the spring.

The charge to adopt a hydrant is $25.00 for a family, $35.00 for organizations or groups, $50.00 for businesses, and $100.00 for major corporations.

Approximately $3,000.00 has been raised for the Villa Park Fire Department.

A village of people has learned from one young man, the term “pay it forward,” not only works financially, it brings people together.