“It wasn’t just the families who lost,” Leetch said. “The people who knew them, they lost as well.”

“In a lot of ways, it’s a private thing, and in a lot of ways it’s a community thing,” said Jones, whose husband was a popular Lincoln native and Illinois Wesleyan graduate. “This is a way to show appreciation for everyone’s kindness to us and to honor them (the men) for their kindness.

“We know they would love nothing more than to have people treating others with respect and kindness. It’s a chance in some way to repay the community by encouraging people to do nice things in the community.”

Andy Butler's fiance agreed. Jamie Fox said she's been overwhelmed by the support given to her. She hopes to return some of that kindness to her neighbors, the ISU athletic department, even the veterinary office where she takes her new puppy.

"It's going to be a hard day for us," she said of the families. "Being able to do something nice and put that energy to a better use is good."

Plans are for a Facebook page explaining the initiative. There will be no rules or guidelines, just a few words on the spirit of “Project 7.”

Where it goes from there will be left to us, all of us.