NASHUA – A small act of kindness from one musician to another set the stage for one young boy’s mission to begin helping those less fortunate.

Dominic, 10, began pounding away on the drums at just 7 years old. In the last three years, been making a name for himself, forming connections with big-name bands and performing at various Nashua events.

Once per month, he travels down to Boston with his family to set up his equipment in Boston Common to play for those less fortunate.

Approximately two years ago, Dominic was jamming away during a street performances when a homeless Boston man approached him and asked Dominic to play him a song. Without hesitation, Dominic, drumsticks in hand, wailed away on the drums, delivering a sound that compelled the man to show his appreciation.

“I played a song for him. And at the end of the song, he gave me his last quarter,” Dominic said. “He turned out to be a musician himself.”

On the ride back to New Hampshire, Dominic and his father, Dominic Sr., discussed that small gesture. This brief interaction inspired Dominic to continue the street performances, only now for a clear cause.

“When that incident happened in Boston, we talked about it on the way home, and he said he wanted to give back and that led us to reach out to find out how and where,” Dominic Sr. said.

That is when they found Our Sister & Brother’s Keeper organization. Dominic’s mother, Jennifer, said all of the money he raises during these street performances is equally split to provide for the homeless, and to giving to The Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock (CHad).

“When that incident happened in Boston, it just opened up a new chapter in our life,” Dominic Sr. said.

Since then, Dominic has been raising funds and putting together kindness and courage kits for those who need a bit of positivity. Jennifer admits that going in and out of Boston, Dominic will get emotional at times when seeing homeless people.

“I think if he had it, he would try to help everybody, but we tell him that if you’re helping one person, then you’re helping somebody,” Jennifer said. “When we go into Boston Common on those Sundays, it’s grown to be so many individuals that we see.”

Additionally, Dominic puts together courage kits for those children in the hospital, which include items such as pillow cases, blankets and toys. Those kits get delivered to the beds of children doing extended stays.

“He’s inspired a lot of his friends and a lot of other community members to get actively involved,” Jennifer said.

Dominic said he has a passion for playing the drums, and that it gives him a good feeling. His dad said he may be a quiet boy, but behind the drum set, that’s a different story.

“It feels good to give back to people who have nothing,” Dominic said.

Dominic is also working on building up his online presence. He has attracted attention of bands such as Dave Matthews Band and Pepper. Dominic’s parents say drummers from both bands have sort of taken him under their wing, so to speak, and have been corresponding back and forth, having learned Dominic performs their songs regularly, whether for fun or for charity.

Dominic Sr. said last year, his son performed during the Nu Muse Festival and Nashua’s Winter Holiday Stroll. This weekend, he will be in Nashua playing Saturday during the Awareness is Healing: Walk to STOP Heroin/Opioid Abuse. The walk begins at 11 a.m. at Nashua City Hall. Dominic Sr. said while his son has a passion for playing, it can be hard to find places for children his age to play.

“You don’t want to throw them into a bar scene or that kind of environment,” Dominic Sr. said. “So, you try to find a positive path, an appropriate positive path, and that’s why we ended up going to Boston and street performing; and everything kind of snowballed from there.”

With so much talent brewing, Dominic would like to someday turn his passion for percussion into a career.

Adam Urquhart may be contacted at 594-1206, or at aurquhart@nashuatelegraph.com.