By Monica Rodriguez, Staff Writer Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
 

POMONA - While many will spend the holiday at home with family, Thai and Diamond Dang are throwing a Christmas party for dozens of complete strangers.

On Sunday evening the Dangs, with help from friends and local businesses, will provide hot soup, sandwiches, pies and entertainment to a number of the city's homeless at the Pomona Armory.

"I would challenge anyone to do better than me," Thai Dang said. "Jump in and do more."

Pomona residents of Vietnamese heritage, the Dangs sought to assist the homeless after befriending a homeless man named Paul earlier this year.

While trying to help Paul, they began considering other people in similar situations, and how cold nights were on the horizon.

"While I'm inside the house, they are outside. I feel so sorry for them," Diamond Dang said.

So in mid-November Thai Dang contacted Jan Cicco, the city's homeless services coordinator.

While Cicco often receives complaints about the homeless in the city, Thai Dang's call was different. He showed compassion and an interest in doing something himself, she said.

Cicco told him of the armory on Park Avenue and Seventh Street, which serves as a shelter during the winter.

"He started looking for what he could do, and that was pretty impressive," Cicco said. "He really took the ball and ran with it."

The Dangs decided to offer a Christmas party at the armory, and began approaching local businesses about providing food.

Thai Dang, a design engineer, told his co-workers of his plan, and many began bringing in clothing, he said. Some even offered to provide apple pies, brownies and other treats.

The Dangs also purchased a Christmas tree and ornaments, which they dropped off at the armory for the homeless to decorate.

Diamond Dang said she and her husband are fortunate to have jobs and a home.

"I always put myself in that position," she said.

Thai Dang finds it easy to relate to their situation.

"Once we were homeless. We were countryless," he said. Thai Dang came to the United States in 1979 from Vietnam. A Minnesota family opened their home to him and became his new family.

Now it's time to return the favor, he said.

Cicco said a 2002 survey showed that at any given time, Pomona has about 2,000 homeless. Those numbers can increase in the winter when those from colder climates head to Southern California.

"A lot of people just for pure survival gravitate toward this area," she said.

Those who Thai Dang seeks to help are the chronically homeless - those who have long-term disabilities or chemical dependencies, or face other obstacles that make it difficult to move forward.

The Dangs' efforts could impact a homeless person's life to the extent that perhaps one or more will see that people do care, and may seek a new life, Cicco said.

"I don't think they're used to being remembered," she said.

Monica Rodriguez can be reached at or by phone at (909) 482-9226.