EASTON, Md.- A fast food restaurant in Easton is helping raise money for autism. For the next year, Sonic has pledged to donate 25 percent of the proceeds from a new drink, called "The Puzzler," to the Eastern Shore chapter of the National Autism Association.

Families gathered in Easton on Wednesday to watch one child, 8-year-old Kyle Lambert, choose the new frozen drink.

"It's a puzzle and you put the flavors inside the drink to taste it to see if it is great or not," he said.

Many parents, including Kyle's mother Vickie Lambert, said it is a challenge raising a child with special needs.

"A lot of parents have financial issues that prevent them from giving children the services they need," she said.

Darren McCarthy, director of the Learning Development Research Center in Easton, said solving the mystery behind autism is a work in progress.

"The state of Maryland is doing what it can to really research what is done and what services are really making a difference," McCarthy said. "We really want to get into the research and try to find an answer to this puzzle."

Until then, families say the support from the community and the proceeds from the "Puzzler" drink will warm their spirits.