GARDEN GROVE : Tending to Troubles in Paradise : Out of Their Own Pockets, Vietnamese in a New Land Help Its Homeless

There are agencies, charities and government programs that help the homeless. But there’s nothing quite like the effort by Khoi Vu and his friends.

The Vietnamese immigrant says he never thought he would find hunger in this land of plenty when he arrived here in 1979.

“When I was in Vietnam, I thought America was paradise,” said Vu, who publishes a Vietnamese-language magazine in Westminster. “It just breaks my heart to see so many homeless people around.”

For the past six months, Khoi and a band of friends have provided free lunches to hundreds of poor and homeless people in various locations in Orange County. What makes them unique is that they are spending their own money.

They do not belong to a nonprofit group. They do not solicit donations. But through his magazine, Ngay Mai, Vu urges people to bring food where the free meals are held. And he’s never been disappointed.

Wednesday, the daughter of Westminster City Councilman Tony Lam brought macaroni salad, and half a dozen other volunteers brought bread, drinks and desserts for about 80 homeless people at St. Anselm of Canterbury Episcopal Church on Galway Street.

“We need people like him to knock out the hatred and poverty in this world,” said Jeff Levine, 24, who has been homeless for two years. He says he earns his daily keep by telling jokes and charging 25 cents for each.

Irene and Craig Nickles brought their three children, ages 15 months to 12 years, for Wednesday’s lunch.

“It makes me feel good that America helped these (Vietnamese) people, and now they are helping back,” said Irene Nickles, who has been out of work for three years.

Vu, who escaped Vietnam by boat, says that “we got many things to thank for in America.”

“It’s time we do something in return,” Vu said.