GREENFIELD — The annual “Break-athon” smashed into its 22nd year on Saturday morning, with the sound of boards breaking and a growing kindling stack signaling more money being raised for Warm the Children.

Each board broken by the roughly 20 participants who gathered at the Greenfield Tae Kwon Do Center had a dollar amount attached, with pledges ranging from a couple cents to a few dollars per board. Within the first hour, close to 700 boards were already broken, racking up money for Warm the Children, the Greenfield Recorder’s charity that helps provide warm clothing for families in need across Franklin County and the North Quabbin area.

David Johnson, the studio’s founder, owner and instructor, said the enthusiasm witnessed in the participants came from the knowledge of what good this activity will do.

“I think the enthusiasm that people are using in the breaking is actually a reflection on enthusiasm they have for raising [money],” Johnson said a few hours into the “Break-athon.” “They know what this is all about and they’re here singularly with that intention.”

Warm the Children was started in 1993, and the donation drive goes until the end of December. Last year, the drive provided new coats and clothes to about 840 children, raising more than $50,000 to cover expenses.

The Recorder has a partnership with Target to provide gift cards to beneficiaries, which are given to Community Action Pioneer Valley for distribution to those in need. They can be used in the store or online to buy clothing for each qualifying child, 12 years old or younger.

The breaking of wooden planks is a chance for the tae kwon do students to give back to the community through the Warm the Children fundraiser while also developing a physical and mental skill that Johnson said is important beyond just the act itself.

One of the instructors, John Iverson of Bernardston, said he’s participated in the “Break-athon” since its first year. Throughout the morning, Iverson offered advice, took photos of his fellow participants and explained the process for the day.

“We have the kids that earn the most [through their pledge amounts] break first [and we] get them as many boards without overwhelming them,” Iverson explained.

This year, 12-year-old Callum Joyce broke 250 boards, each worth $1.10 each. While Callum stood on cinder blocks and seemingly broke through the planks with ease, his mother Lisa Joyce said Callum started tae kwon do two years ago and participated in his first “Break-athon” last year. She said it’s been fun to see him enjoy the community service element of the day.

“It’s been really fun to see him get really excited about community service,” Lisa Joyce said. “He’s been getting pledges for his teachers at school [and] a couple family members.”

This isn’t the first time Callum had an idea to do some sort of fundraising for a cause he cares about. His mother said the “Break-athon” became the “perfect outlet” to tap into that interest.

Although participants like Callum make breaking the boards look easy, there is a technique involved.

“It’s considerably more about focus than brute strength,” instructor Jillian Iverson Tozloski said. A black belt herself who has participated in more than 15 “Break-athons,” she explained there’s a nuance to the break.

“It is mostly technique to do it in such a way that you break the board, but also don’t injure yourself,” she said. “There’s a component of speed, component of focus, and then there is obviously strength involved as well.”

With 2,800 boards to break between 9 a.m. and noon, the varied skills of each participant became valuable to meeting their goals.

At the end of the day, the “Break-athon” raised just over $2,000, with more expected to flow in from the kindling sales that come after the event ends. All 2,800 boards were broken, with one participant, Xavier Pouliot, smashing the record for most breaks by child participants. Xavier broke 350 boards compared to the previous record of 280.

“It’s a good thing to do. We’re doing something worthwhile and it gives back to the community,” Iverson said. “We’ve been doing it for so long. We just want to keep helping the kids.”

Outside of the “Break-athon,” anyone who would like to send tax-deductible donations for Warm the Children can do so online at recorder.com by clicking the Warm the Children “Donate Here” feature at the top left of the homepage. Donations also can be sent to Greenfield Recorder, Warm the Children Fund, P.O. Box 1367, 14 Hope St., Greenfield, MA 01301.

Erin-Leigh Hoffman can be reached at ehoffman@recorder.com or 413-930-4231.