A truck full of 222 turkeys was quickly emptied Friday morning behind the cannon memorial between Rolfe Street and Pontiac Avenue as Cranston Cares founders Justin Erickson and Ed Brady handed out the 12 lb. poultry in honor of their friend Adam DeCiccio who passed away in 2020.

“Two years before, he [DeCiccio] just showed up randomly with a pickup truck of turkeys saying he was donating them to veterans,” said Erickson.

Cranston Cares is a three year old nonprofit that provides equitable improvements throughout the entire Cranston Community. The organization started with DeCiccio, Erickson, Brady and has since evolved. Some of the organization’s work includes donating outdoor classrooms and flower beds to schools, collecting toys during the holidays for families in need, providing benches at Meshanticut State Park and more.

Last year, in DeCiccio’s honor, Cranston Cares carried on the turkey tradition with the thought of making the event bigger every year. Erickson said that since last Friday was Veterans Day and DeCiccio was a veteran, handing out turkeys seemed like the perfect thing to do in his honor. As Erickson and Brady handed out turkeys, they shared DeCiccio’s story and Cranston Cares’ slogan “deeds not words.”

Ryan Nardolillo said funding for the turkeys came from the Rock the Deeds Not Words event with Steve Smith and the Nakeds who performed a concert at the Park Theatre. The $7,000 raised from that concert and the raffle went to purchase the 222 turkeys; five thousand dollars went to the turkeys and the rest went to providing free coffee for veterans.

“They were meant for veterans out of appreciation,” said Nardolillo.

But why 222 turkeys? Well, that was DeCiccio’s platoon number.

Cranston Cares purchased the turkeys from Cola Foods, and Nardolillo said Gio Colagiovanni  deserved a lot of credit for providing not only the turkeys but the refrigeration truck. Erickson added that the turkeys went quickly. He arrived at 9 a.m. and people were already waiting for the turkeys. As soon as DeCiccio’s son, Gunner, was sent along the parade route to tell individuals about the free turkeys, the line started to form.

“To watch the amount of people come up to that truck today to say thank you and have just a compassionate, spirit of generosity, it just keeps driving us all together,” said Brady.

Erickson added that some of the turkeys will go to Cranston Public Schools families, 20 turkeys will go to Praise Tabernacle for their meal for individuals experiencing homelessness and 10 turkeys will go to Hugh B. Bain Middle School Thanksgiving celebration.

“We all know that the world we’re in it’s not an easy world, so even doing something as simple as a gift like that in his [DeCiccio’s] honor I think went very, very far,” Brady said.

Growing up, Erickson and Nardolillo were lucky to be provided with everything they needed and, because of that, wanted to give back to those who may not have as much.

Nardolillo said he likes seeing people smile and knowing that he was able to help make that happen. Coming from the mortuary business, Nardolillo said he sees people sad everyday, so when he leaves the building, he wants to see individuals smile.

Erickson said inviting veterans in for a free cup of coffee at the Park Place Cafe gives them a chance to talk to someone – adding that it’s a great way for youth to learn from veterans.

Brady thought there’d be leftover turkeys and was surprised when they were all gone before the start of the parade.

“It means we’ll need more next year,” he said.

Erickson added that he has a photo of DeCiccio handing out turkeys and he took one of DeCiccio’s son doing the same this year.

“It’s pretty sentimental – like father, like son giving out the turkeys,” Erickson said.

Cranston Cares will hold a toy drive on Nov. 28 at the Park Place Cafe. Individuals can drop off an unwrapped toy after 5 p.m. and the toys will be donated to Toys for Tots and nonprofits. On Dec. 3, the organization and the Cranston Police Department will host local kids from the community while Santa pays a visit and hands out toys. Erickson added that Cranston Cares is also helping the police department sell ornaments to raise money so they can help families in need.