Will Teach for Food

The Academy of Kempo Martial Arts is marking the holiday season by helping provide cheer -- and food -- to those who might not be able to otherwise afford it.

Academy members have collected six boxes of food to date with food coming in on a weekly basis. With the help of the community, the Academy’s goal is to be able to relieve some of the stress of the holidays by helping Saint Ann's Soup Kitchen and Keefe Center’s Food Pantry. This will in turn help many families throughout the Hamden area who have a limited amount of resources available to them due to the current economic conditions.

The Academy hopes that during this season of giving that they can encourage and motivate people to think as a community by taking care of the less fortunate.

 “At the Academy we teach our students the importance of helping others. Donating food, clothing, toys, other material items or a monetary donation can do this, but that is not the only way of helping someone," said Shihan Frank Ciarleglio, the instructor at the Academy. "Other ways are volunteering with different organizations, making things for someone (for example making a holiday card for someone in the military, a get well soon card for someone who is ill, drawing a picture etc.) or helping a family member, friend, neighbor or even a stranger.

“These are very important life lessons for the younger people," he said. "This helps them to be part of a community and understand that everyone can give, whether it’s something you buy or something you do for someone.” 

The Academy is offering its students a free semi-private lesson for any five or more non-perishable items they donate, and offering two weeks of free lessons to non-students (limited to one give away per person and cannot be combined).

“I am offering these free Martial Arts lessons as a way of giving back to those who give, and I am also hoping that it will encourage others to give when they would not have normally done so," Ciarleglio said. "This is a great opportunity for students to get some one-on-one training and for non-students to try the Martial Arts.”

The Academy is accepting donations now through the end of the holiday season and can be dropped off at its studio at 1890 Dixwell Ave. For more information, call (203) 288-9990, or visit www.academyofkempo.com to find out what are the best times to drop off your donations and receive your gift.