Eva Longoria Baston Reminds Us Kids in Detention Facilities Need Hugs Too

(Photo: Hispanic Lifestyle [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)]

Eva Longoria Baston has shared a photo of herself cuddling her gorgeous son, Santi – and there’s an important reason why.

The actress is using her platform to shine a light on all the kids in detention centres who are missing out on hugs from their loved ones.

“Currently, immigrant detainees, including young children, are being deprived of the most basic human needs: running water, clean clothes, adequate food, healthy sleep and beds,” Eva writes on social media. “These young ones are not allowed to receive hugs or any physical contact from caretakers – or even one another. This has the potential to create severe trauma.”

To help spread the message, she’s asking us all to share photos of ourselves hugging someone we love. “Try to express what this hug means to you,” she writes, “and how those currently suffering in detention are being denied a hug just like this one.”

 

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Currently, Immigrant detainees, including young children, are being deprived of the most basic human needs: Running water, clean clothes, adequate food, healthy sleep, and beds. Experts have called the conditions at these detention centers, where children are separated from their parents, “worse than jail” and compared them to “torture facilities.” These young ones are not allowed to receive hugs or any physical contact from caretakers — or even one another. This has the potential to create severe trauma. We all use hugs as a way to comfort, to encourage, to create warmth, and to heal. Join the #OneVidaAtaTime HUG CHALLENGE to foster empathy and raise funds for www.immigrantfamiliestogether.com an organization which offers comprehensive support to asylum seekers once they are released: Housing, clothing, and a path to reunite with their loved ones. IT’S EASY: Share a photo of you hugging someone. It could be your kid, your partner, your parent — And if you post a #throwback pic of you as a kid hugging someone, that’s even better! If possible, try to express what this hug means to you and how those currently suffering in detention are being denied a hug just like this one. Tag #OneVidaAtaTimeHugChallenge; DONATE directly to https://bit.ly/2ZlEAjJ ; CHALLENGE a friend to post and donate, and that’s it! Let’s hug this out! #HugitOut

A post shared by Eva Longoria Baston (@evalongoria) on Aug 30, 2019 at 10:46am PDT

It’s called the #OneVidaAtATime Hug Challenge and the aim is to not only remind us all about the situation that so many kids in detention are facing right now, but also to help raise funds for Immigrant Families Together, an organisation working to support asylum seekers and reunite families.

Since Eva posted her hug challenge, it looks like plenty of people have been jumping on board to help out:

 

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The awareness created: PRICELESS! ❤️THANK YOU❤️ We still have 2 days in this holiday weekend, please DONATE. No amount is too small (or large). Bonds typically run $5000-25,000 each. Groceries for a family average $350-450/MONTH. Our average monthly expenses run $65-75,000- WITHOUT a single salary. EVERYONE in our organization is a volunteer. When we work together we can make a difference! #onevidaatatimehugchallenge To give: https://www.gofundme.com/f/ImmigrantFamiliesTogetherGeneralFund Tap bio for clickable link 😎

A post shared by Immigrant Families Together (@immfamtogether) on Sep 1, 2019 at 6:21am PDT