GREENFIELD — Over 18 years spent breaking boards for its annual fundraising event, the Greenfield Tae Kwon Do Center has broken records in support of Warm the Children.
The Greenfield Tae Kwon Do Center has been holding its “break-athon” since 2002, raising more than $92,000 in total. That makes the center, and owner and instructor David Johnson, one of the largest fundraising supporters for Warm the Children, the annual charity overseen by the Greenfield Recorder that helps to provide warm clothing for families in need.
Johnson said he felt it was important to keep the fundraiser active this year as more families are expected to be in need due to the economic impact of the pandemic.
“We’re hoping to get to $100,000 but with COVID it’s hard to predict,” Johnson said. “It’s been a hard, hard year.”
In a normal year, Greenfield Tae Kwon Do Center’s students break thousands of 1-inch thick boards. This year, Johnson said, they will only be breaking hundreds. Ordinarily, over a dozen students gather together at the dojo, but due to COVID-19 safety precautions, fewer students will be participating overall, and those who are participating will do so in single sessions at different times and days.
“The break-athon lives on,” Johnson said.
The break-athon is running now through Dec. 31. Anyone interested in donating can choose to “sponsor” a participating student. Participants of all ages shared their motivations for participating ahead of this year’s fundraiser.
“Over a decade ago, as a struggling parent, I was the grateful recipient of warm new winter outerwear for my young children, available only by Warm the Children donations,” said Greenfield Tae Kwon Do Center member Mikele Deziell. “Since then I am honored to have been involved in over a dozen Greenfield Tae Kwon Do Center break-athons and give back to the organization that helped myself and so many others.”
The break-athon event is a chance for the center’s students to showcase their knowledge of martial arts, while having fun and raising money for a local cause. Breaking boards is normally reserved for higher-ranking students, but Johnson said the center likes to include everyone for the fundraiser.
“It sounds cool to break a board,” said 6-year-old Gabriel Friedman. “I like the part where you get to help people.”
Jakub Constantine, a 9-year-old student, said he is happy to participate in the program so “kids can actually get warm clothes,” and because “it’s really fun.”
“One thing I like, it’s not for a business,” said 11-year-old Zack Constantine, Jakub’s cousin. “It’s for Warm The Children. I know it’s going to the right place. I will try my best to help them.”
Chip Gregory, an adult student, said he enjoyed being able “to give back to the community” through the annual break-athon. He also participated in the 2019 event.
“I participate in the break-athon every year because no child should be without good winter clothes,” commented participating instructor Charlotte Gifford. “Warm the Children offers much-needed support to kids in our communities, and I feel good about supporting them.”
The interest in the fundraiser and community support is a representation of the respect established within the Tae Kwon Do lessons. The martial art is built on creating that sense of respect, which feeds back into serving the community.
“To be part of the community, you must also contribute to it,” commented 14-year-old Eden Singh.
“It’s important to do because it helps homeless and poor people to get warm clothes,” said Zack’s brother Nick Constantine, also 11. “We don’t keep a penny. It’s good to help people and the community.”
Donations can be mailed to the Greenfield Tae Kwon Do Center, 102 Federal St., Greenfield, MA 01301. Checks must be made payable to “Warm the Children” and can indicate the name of the “sponsored” Tae Kwon Do student in the memo, or note it alongside a cash donation.
The broken pieces of wood are often collected and sold as bundles of kindling, with that money being donated to Warm the Children also. While participants will break fewer boards overall this year, Johnson said they will still sell bags of broken lumber at $10 each for kindling after the break-athon is complete.
For more information on the Greenfield Tae Kwon Do Center, visit grnfldtkd.com.
Over the past few decades, the Warm the Children fundraiser has grown to provide new coats and clothes to 900 children from Franklin County and the North Quabbin region each year, raising approximately $90,000 to cover the expenses annually.
Traditionally, Wilson’s Department Store has partnered with the Recorder to order the clothes. However, with Wilson’s having closed earlier this year, the Recorder has partnered with Target to provide gift cards for clothing purchases. These gift cards, which have been provided to Community Action Pioneer Valley for distribution, can be used in store or online to buy clothing, according to organizer Pat Maleno, business manager for the Greenfield Recorder, Athol Daily News and Daily Hampshire Gazette.
“I want to thank everyone for their patience,” Maleno said. “We did the best we could, with everything happening, to push through.”
Maleno said she recognized the delay in distribution this year, and families’ frustration while they waited for final answers. She noted that delays were in part due to hurdles of finding a new retail partner, and collecting donations with limitations or delays in fundraiser events, like the break-athon. Thankfully, Maleno said, most people’s “generosity in these times has been amazing.”
“We greatly appreciate anything anybody can do,” Maleno said.
Although the window for referrals or applicants to benefit has closed (which is done through social service agencies), anyone interesting in sending tax-deductible donations may address them to The Greenfield Recorder: Warm the Children at P.O. Box 1367, 14 Hope St., Greenfield MA, 01302.Any donations not used this year will be put toward the 2021 Warm the Children effort.
Zack DeLuca can be reached at zdeluca@recorder.com or 413-930-4579.