The Momtivists’ Bake Sale (Photo – Casey Revkin Ryan)
By now, many people have heard that immigrant families are being detained at the Dilley Detention Center in Texas, where living conditions fall below acceptable standards.
By Cheryl Auger
Liam, the little boy in the blue bunny hat, was detained there with his father after being flown from Minneapolis. The tap water, and sometimes even the bath and toilet water, makes people sick, and children are occasionally hospitalized. In some cases, families arrive already ill and are unable to access necessary medications. Mothers may also be unable to nurse their babies due to extreme stress. When they try to use the facility’s water to prepare infant formula, the babies often become sick.
Several groups have organized petitions calling for the release of families from these for-profit detention centers. They have also staged a “Blue Bunny Brigade” protest to advocate for the detainees’ release.
A local group, The Momtivists, has been holding bake sales to raise money for “Each Step Home.” Recent sales in Atwater Village and Burbank drew strong community support, and additional bake sales are planned for May in Venice and Studio City. Casey Revkin, executive director and co-founder, uses these donations to help detainees purchase essentials such as bottled water, menstrual products, toiletries, and food. She said:
“When people hear that children in the ICE detention facility in Dilley don’t have access to something as basic as clean water, they are horrified. I was horrified when I first heard. I just knew I had to do something. I’m so heartened to see all the people who have joined me in filling the commissary accounts of the families at Dilley.”
This past weekend’s bake sale raised more than $6,000, a reminder that small actions can make a meaningful difference. It’s encouraging to see so many people stepping up to support these families.
Staff Note: The Momtivists can be followed on Facebook and Instagram for ongoing outreach efforts.
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