WILTON — A classroom assignment to do something for the community inspired a Wilton seventh-grader to consider the needs of a local fire department.

While most students paired up to do something for local nursing homes or the animal shelter, Johnathan Warren, 13, remembered the firefighters “who get out there and help us in fires and crashes.”

For his language arts assignment from teacher Maureen Oswald at Mt. Blue Middle School, Warren started a fundraising campaign to help buy equipment for a small volunteer fire and rescue department.

His parents were amazed when they realized how much he had done on his own, father Mike Warren said.

The teen will donate all funds raised during his school project to the Chesterville Fire Department because it’s a small department with a small budget. He wanted to help raise money for them from his assigned philanthropic project, he said.

The town of Chesterville and the Chesterville Fire Department are not involved in the project.

In a letter written about the project, Warren asked for help. “The men and women of this small, local, all-volunteer fire and EMS department dedicate and unselfishly donate their time 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, to provide top-notch fire and EMS services to not only our community, but they also provide mutual aid services to several other surrounding towns and fire departments in the area. This is just a small way for us to show a token of thanks for all they do.”

Warren, who grew up in a family of firefighters, wants to become a junior firefighter next year.

He hopes to wrap up the project in time for its due date in April. Some funds have already come in through efforts he’s made using social media. He’s considering door-to-door appeals, he said.

Warren set up an email address for more information at [email protected].

Those who would like to help may send donations to: Fire Department Donations,  C/O Johnathan Warren’s School Project, 45 Masterman Ave., Wilton, ME 04294.

[email protected]