Karate Students Help Put Food on the Table

BOSTON, MA — Instead of following their regular Saturday training routine – practicing blocks, punches, and kicks – a dozen karate students from Boston’s Emerald Necklace Martial Arts spent their morning at the Greater Boston Food Bank. Together with other volunteers from around the city, the karate students sorted over 14,000 pounds of donated food – enough to provide more than 9,000 meals to people in need.

“I can't imagine what it must be like for those who have to choose between food and rent,” says Angela Dwyer, the senior student at the karate school who organized the day of service. “I was glad we could help in a small way.” Dwyer also put together a holiday food drive at her karate school, and supervised the delivery of several bins of collected donations to the food bank.

“The leadership training aspect of our program is achieving some noteworthy results,” says Sensei Jason Gould, Dojo Director and Chief Instructor. “The students have a positive experience while demonstrating their commitment to community and their capacity for compassion. I can’t wait to see what they come up with next.”

In order to earn their Brown Belts at Emerald Necklace Martial Arts, students are required to conceive of, plan, and lead their own community service project. Other projects recently launched by Brown Belt candidates include developing a free self-defense program for women, and participating in a home renovation project to help house Boston’s elderly homeless.

Martial Artists Help House Boston’s Elderly Homeless

BOSTON, MA – Collaborating with Hearth, Inc., a non-profit organization that provides shelter and services for the community’s elderly homeless, karate students from Boston’s Emerald Necklace Martial Arts are volunteering to renovate a housing unit in the city’s Jamaica Plain neighborhood. Working side-by-side with other volunteers from across the city, the karate students hope to see the project — which involves light demolition, painting, and cleaning -- completed by mid-December.

"Truly, we could not have made this a reality without the help of these volunteers,” said Jennifer Bonardi, Associate Director of Grants and Volunteer Manager at Hearth, Inc. “Thanks to them, 14 elders will be coming off of the streets of Boston and into a home for good this winter."

The students at Emerald Necklace Martial Arts regularly participate in community service activities as part of their Black Belt training. In order to earn their Brown Belts, students at the dojo (karate school) are required to conceive of, plan, and lead their own community service project.

Coordinating the Hearth service project for the dojo was the idea of Brown Belt candidate Joe Polcari. “I have a special place in my heart for the elderly,” Polcari says. “In America, they are often overlooked. Like most of us, I sometimes take my situation for granted, and I can’t imagine what it’s like to feel the pain of old age without a roof over my head.”

“In addition to teaching the physical aspects of karate at our school, we heavily emphasize developing character, and fostering a sense of community,” says Sensei Jason Gould, Dojo Director and Chief Instructor. “During this project, we’re helping to build community in a very literal sense, and it’s a fantastic feeling knowing that our efforts here will have a direct and significant impact on people’s lives.”

Other community service projects recently launched by Brown Belt candidates at Emerald Necklace Martial Arts include developing a free self-defense program for women, organizing a day of service at an urban food pantry, and collecting toys for needy children during the holiday season.

The first Journal Entry for the 100.

This is the first journal entry for the Martial Arts Association called "THE 100."

You can see our website at http://www.theonehundred.org/.

I am Tom Callos...and here's my photo (the fellow in the hat):