FAMILIES WANT TO THANK AMERICA; IMMIGRANTS TO REPAY NATION'S HOSPITALITY BY SERVING MEAL FOR HOMELESS.

Byline: John Huddy Daily News Staff Writer

Nearly 40 years after Jalel Banki and Jim Karimi came to the United States as foreign exchange students, the men and their families are saying thanks by putting together a holiday feast for Simi Valley homeless today.

This will be the second year the two families have fed the needy and homeless at the Simi Valley Samaritan Center.

``I've been fed in American homes for 30 years and I thought it was time to have my own Thanksgiving dinner,'' said Banki, a civil engineer living in Westlake Village.

This year, the families are expecting more than 100 people to come to the feast. Volunteers from the Samaritan Center and St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church have been handing out fliers to local churches and residents.

``These two families are very giving, caring and delightful people,'' said Diane Hooley of the Samaritan Center, who will be helping out at the dinner along with the Banki and Karimi families. ``I think it's wonderful that they want to give back to their country. If more people did something like this, society would be a better place.''

Banki and Karimi came to the United States from Iran as college students in 1959. Banki attended Utah State University and the University of California at Berkeley and Karimi pursued studies at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo.

Neither Banki nor Karimi knew each other before coming to America, but their paths would cross several decades later as neighbors in Westlake Village.

Karimi never returned to his homeland, landing a job as an engineer in Los Angeles. Banki returned to Iran after college in 1967, visiting America during summer vacations between 1967 and 1979.

Determined to escape the revolution in his native country, Banki returned to the United States in 1979 - this time with a wife, Parychehr, and two children, Ali and Nader.

Banki came up with the idea of putting on a Thanksgiving feast for the homeless two years ago. His friend Karimi was eager to help and they brainstormed the idea, but didn't know how to go about putting the feast on.

``It was hard in the beginning,'' Banki said. ``We called a lot of charity organizations - we had to find at least 100 homeless people and we didn't know where to find them in the area.''

Banki eventually talked with Hooley at the Simi Valley Samaritan Center. After listening to Banki, Hooley offered her help.

Members of the Samaritan Center and neighboring St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church would head out into the hills of Simi Valley to find homeless campouts.

People were collected and the plan was set - the feast would go on. Banki and Karimi hit the markets, making arrangements to stock up on food for the tired, the poor and for the underprivileged.

Ten turkeys were purchased, along with stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie and enough other food to feed more than 100 people - costing a total of $600.

They pay for the feast out of their own pockets - each family wanting to pay homage to the country and the people who have made their lives here so rewarding.

``This was the least I could do to say thank you to the United States,'' said Jalel Banki. Parychehr Banki, a psychotherapist in Westlake Village and their youngest son, Nader, 25, also will be helping out for this year's feast.

Jim Karimi, who will be there with his wife, Gitou, and their son, Raumin, 33, agreed with his friend's desire to show gratitude.

``I loved this country from when I was a little boy,'' said Karimi, who now lives in Thousand Oaks and has retired from the engineering business to run an antique shop in Los Angeles. ``I heard about all the opportunity and freedom of America from my parents and older brother, and I had to come here.''

Both Banki and Karimi say they hope to continue their newfound tradition of generosity each year for Thanksgiving, with their sons taking over in the future.

``I have a promise from my children that they will carry this tradition on after me,'' Banki said. ``We've done this for the great satisfaction and achievement that we've had in this country.''

This year's feast will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at the Simi Valley Samaritan Center, 280 Royal Ave. Call [phone].

CAPTION(S):

Photo

PHOTO (Color) Jalel and Pary Banki, left, and Gitou and Jim Karimi prepare to cook up a Thanksgiving feast for more than 100 homeless and needy people in the area.

Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News