My son Brandon has been training at the Len Brassard Family Martial Arts Center for the past six years, working hard toward his ultimate goal of earning his black belt. This journey hasn’t been easy; Brandon has ADHD and autism, but his determination and resilience have kept him moving forward.

Most of Brandon’s time is spent in a community-based day program, where he sometimes works at a local company, earning money to buy more of his favorite Beyblades. He frequently volunteers, helping to deliver Meals on Wheels in Fitchburg and helping out at Growing Places and The Gardeners Spot in Leominster as well as spending time at many local parks, stores, and libraries. These experiences help him build skills, independence, and connections in his community. When he’s not there, you’ll find him at the karate studio or at home enjoying his Beyblades and watching YouTube videos. Karate has given him a place to shine, build confidence, and work toward something truly meaningful.

As part of his black belt journey, Brandon has chosen a community service project close to his heart: raising money to provide complete meal kits for families in need. Each kit will include shelf-stable ingredients to prepare one full meal for a family of 4–6, and all kits will be donated to the Winchendon Food Pantry, where we live. The kits are designed not only to be nourishing but also to taste good!

By supporting Brandon, you’re not only helping him along his black belt journey but also spreading kindness and providing a good meal to local families.

From Brandon:

“Thank you for helping me with my project. My black belt is a journey, and I’m proud that part of it means helping families in my community.”