GREENFIELD — In its 22nd year raising money for the Warm the Children clothing drive, the Greenfield Tae Kwon Do Center raised $4,400 with its annual Break-athon event in November and subsequent kindling sales.

The Break-athon involves tae kwon do students breaking wooden boards, which are then cut into kindling and sold to raise 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.

In November, instructors and students filled the dojo to break boards and showcase their skills to cheering families, loved ones and instructors while showing their efforts to raise money for Warm the Children. This year’s Break-athon raised just over $2,000 on the day of the event and all 2,800 boards were broken.

“It was an idea that we had to kind of jump-start, because promoting it and making people aware of it was initially tough,” said Greenfield Tae Kwon Do Center owner David Johnson. “In the early years, in order to sell kindling, I had to get a special permit, and we stood on the traffic islands to sell bags of kindling just to let people know.”

Johnson said since the event first kicked off in 2002, it has raised a total of $120,155 for Warm the Children. He noted that the fundraiser has changed significantly since its inception decades ago.

Surrounded by tae kwon do students of all ages, Johnson handed a yellow envelope containing $4,400 to Recorder Business Manager Patti Wasilewski, who coordinates the donation drive in partnership with Community Action Pioneer Valley.

“People were a little more hesitant, because they were afraid financially. We raised almost $2,000 more last year, and we kind of saw it coming and we worked harder,” Johnson said. “The fact that they came in with almost $5,000 — I was really impressed, because I was thinking if we broke $3,000, it would be nothing short of miraculous.”

Wasilewski said she is grateful for the community’s support of Warm the Children, though she noted this year’s drive brought in approximately $6,000 less than last year, which provided new coats and clothes to about 840 children, raising more than $50,000 to cover expenses. She added that donations are accepted year-round and can be mailed to 14 Hope St., Suite 101, Greenfield.

“The actual Warm the Children drive is down from previous years, so hopefully we could get a few more donations,” she said. “This drive really helps a lot of the kids. It’s really important and we want to keep it going.”

Anthony Cammalleri can be reached at acammalleri@recorder.com or 413-930-4429.