The Argus

Firefighters are good guys. Just ask any child.

That the men and women of Hillsboro's Fire Department have formed Random Acts, a organization where they volunteer their free time for charitable acts, might seem a logical extension of that image.

Ted Whiteman, Random Acts founder and director, agrees in principle, but he's also aware of benefits to the firefighters from participating in the group. "Firefighters, by nature, are people who are giving," he said. "We go on things that are not very pretty sometimes. You need something like this sometimes, to balance it out."

One situation that helped spur Random Acts' birth sprang from a particularly hectic period for Hillsboro's firefighters. Whiteman recalls that during the floods of 1996, local firefighters answered as many as 15 calls a day. "Sometimes we would come across a situation significant to a family, but we couldn't, at the time, spend the time to address it," he said.

One case stood out, and the firefighters decided to help. With funds contributed by their union branch, IAFF Local 2210, they decided to purchase a sump pump for a family who could not afford to buy one of their own. This led to the creation of what the firefighters then called their "Samaritan Fund," although they did not then set up a formal structure.

Over the years, similar opportunities came along, many because of the unique way firefighters interact with people. "We're in the position to see people as they're actually living," Whiteman said. When someone calls 9-1-1, they're not going to have straightened the house for company.

The firefighters have purchased and installed a screen for a woman whose chimney was invaded by birds. They also helped pay funeral expenses for a family whose infant had died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

No city funds are used for these projects. Instead, Random Acts functions through individual contributions of both time and money and through donations of partners, often local businesses. Although it has no formal connection to either the city, union or Hillsboro Fire Department itself, Whiteman said it enjoys the full support of Chief Gary Seidel and other city departments have sometimes participated in projects.

Anyone can suggest potential projects for Random Acts, but Whiteman said the one submitting an idea has to be willing to participate in its solution. "If you're going to bring us the Random Acts project, we want you to be in charge," he said. In return, the project will get 100 percent financial support.

The firefighters have also received support from local businesses. DJ's Plumbing contributed labor to fix a broken water pipe in an elderly woman's kitchen and Random Acts paid for the materials. Whiteman said they have also worked with Hillsboro Towing and Bike N' Hike.

During 2008, Random Acts made the commitment to run the Toy and Joy program, which in the past had been handled by Local 2210. Nothing has changed in the program, Whiteman said, except "who does the books" since Random Acts is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit.