‘Nick-squared' – Father and son team give back to troops in Iraq

When Nick DeBlasi Jr. describes the photograph of American troops in Iraq sent to him and his father, Nick DeBlasi, Sr., displayed in the window of the family’s Italian grocery in Howard Beach, the pride in his voice is so unmistakable that even over the telephone you can imagine a grin on his face.
The eight-by-ten-inch picture shows three grateful male soldiers wearing camouflage fatigues posing for their unseen benefactors in front of a Hummer. They hold up shopping bags emblazoned with the grocery’s logo, Brothers’ Italian Food World.
Along with the photograph, the father and son received a note thanking them for giving the troops a taste of home and a plaque recognizing their generosity.
Nick Jr., 35, was overwhelmed at receiving the troops’ tokens of appreciation. &#8220That’s great. You can’t even put it into words,” he said, explaining his relief at learning that not only had the goods made it to Iraq, but at holding proof in his hand that he and his father had helped make the lives of the American soldiers stationed there better.
Father and son were inspired to reach out to the troops back in 2002 when a customer who was shopping in their store mentioned that his purchases were for his grandson, a soldier serving in Iraq.
DeBlasi, Jr. was touched by the idea of helping the troops in such a practical way and so he asked if the man could include some additional supplies in his care package.
Since then, &#8220Nick-squared,” as Councilmember Joseph P. Addabbo fondly referred to the two men, have sent provisions to the troops in Iraq once or twice a year, despite not having relatives or friends there.
&#8220It stinks that those guys are there away from their families,” DeBlasi Jr. said.
The DeBlasis have no set budget for their giving to the troops, which typically includes foods like dry sausage, provolone and bread sticks and a variety of toiletries.
This month, they sent out a shipment that included 122 tubes of toothpaste, 240 tooth brushes, 900 razor blades, 60 deodorants and eight cases of baby wipes.
At times they also send the troops prepaid phone cards.
With Thanksgiving fast approaching, the DeBlasis are preparing a holiday feast for the soldiers. It will include potatoes, stuffing, and canned vegetables like yams, corn, peas and beans, DeBlasi, Jr. said.
The DeBlasis will deliver the shipment to Fort Hamilton, an army base in Brooklyn, on November 2 or 3.
From there the military will see that it arrives safely in Iraq in time for Thanksgiving Day, November 23.
According to Addabbo, the two men are no strangers to charity.
&#8220Too often people think businesspeople think only of their bottom line,” Addabbo said.
However, citing contributions the DeBlasis have made to the Howard Beach community including those to senior and youth groups, he added, &#8220A lot of people know of their generosity and are overwhelmed by it.”
Beyond their giving at the community level and to the troops in Iraq, the DeBlasis also responded to the tragedy of 9/11 in a large way.
&#8220When the towers went down, that night I sent water, supplies and flash lights,” said DeBlasi Jr., who said he loaded his van and drove into Manhattan where he saw the devastation at Ground Zero firsthand with the aid of a police officer friend who helped him pass through security posts.
As a result, the DeBlasis started a relief fund for the families of the policemen, firemen and Port Authority workers who died that day.
DeBlasi Sr. had the idea to give away an American flag to anyone who made a donation to the fund. Eventually the two raised $25,000.
Asked why they continue to send their gifts to the troops in Iraq, DeBlasi Jr. explained that it is a comparatively small action.
&#8220I feel bad that these kids are sacrificing so far from home,” he said. &#8220So I can’t sacrifice a little bit for them?”