This year, 4-year-old Karla Montiel asked Santa Claus for a baby doll.
Her parents knew filling that request would be tough. Her father works in the recession-crushed construction industry, and jobs have been scarce. So in October, Karla’s mother, Nancy Lara, filled out an application to participate in the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program, which matches gifts to needy children.
A week later, Karla’s mother told her she wouldn’t be getting the doll. While Karla has a Social Security card, her mother does not. Only U.S. citizens and legal immigrants with permission to work get those, and Angel Tree requires them from applicants.
“It saddens me because I was hopeful for my little girl,” Lara said. “Initially, I was told because she was born here that she qualified. Then they called me telling me she won’t get the toy.”
Here’s a great opportunity for Abu Noor’s Muslim peace corps program. Since Christian groups like the Salvation Army are addled right now by right-wing xenophobia and malice, American Muslim groups could step forward and work to fill the needs of these communities that Christians are turning away at the church door.
