Humanitarian Aid To Cuba Helps Support The People And Provides Hope

Jenny Cressman is an author and occasional travel agent living in Canada who specializes in Cuba. Jenny shares how her recent trip provided an insider’s look at the resourcefulness and resiliency of the Cuban people.

A Story Of Visiting Cuba….

By Jenny Cressman

At the end of February 2022, I went to Cuba for the first time since late 2019. Prior to COVID’s intrusion, I’d been leading group trips to Cuba twice or thrice a year for about a decade. It was good to finally return; I’d been missing that quirky little country and its long-suffering people.

Many of those people have been suffering more than usual due to the lack of tourism, combined with other factors that have adversely affected the country’s economy. Friends who normally worked at a small resort where I took my groups – Marea del Portillo – have been out of work for over two years, and counting. That resort, on the southeastern shore of the island, is so far off any beaten track that it may not reopen as an international tourist destination until the end of this year or, quite possibly, not until next year.

Unfortunately, if tourism is extracted from the mix, there’s not much work in that rural, isolated area. Private businesses that relied on tourists (restaurants, B&Bs, etc.) have had to close. People are scrambling to make ends meet. So, when the stars aligned and it was possible for me to do something to bolster them, I flew there! I arrived in Holguin, armed with fully loaded suitcases and carry-on bags, then I took a taxi to Pilón, about 200 km or 125 miles away. With that town as my base, I visited Marea del Portillo, Mota and Niquero to distribute bags of supplies.

One of the key pieces for that trip was a duty-free exemption for the importation of suitcases filled with health/medical supplies and food. As 2021 was winding down, the Cuban government had magnanimously extended the deadline for this offer, in tacit acknowledgement of the continuing need for such basic items.

Anything that one might normally expect to have in one’s medicine cabinet or first-aid kit is very difficult to find in Cuba and, if it can be found, is extremely expensive. For that reason, I decided to become a drug mule! But, it was all legal and above board; the “drugs” I hauled were ibuprofen, acetaminophen, naproxen, children’s Tylenol, and the like. And, these valuable supplies were given to trusted friends who would freely share them, not sell them on the street.

I took advantage of the duty-free offer in February and I hope to do so again, before it expires. At the end of this little story, I’ll tell you how to get involved, if you wish to do so. First, however, let me share a bit about what I observed in Cuba.

To say that there are “challenges” almost seems to discount the ongoing struggles of life in Cuba these days. The daily difficulties are daunting. The disappearance of basic necessities is frustratingly random and often quite sudden; things are there one day, then they’re gone. Wages (for government jobs) have risen slightly but the cost of living has gone up astronomically. One plastic disposable razor, for example, sells for about $2. I paid less than that for a bulk pack of 10 or 12, when shopping for my February trip! On my next trip, I’ll certainly take more of those lightweight gems.

If you want to shop at a government-run store in Cuba, you now need to have a credit card. For locals, this means opening a special bank account and applying for an MLC card. (I think of this as “Multi-Lingual Currency” since various types of foreign money can be deposited into these accounts and applied to the cards.) These are, in effect, pre-loaded credit cards and the process to obtain one takes time. It also means you must have enough extra cash on hand to make it worthwhile. Some people have not yet made the shift to plastic and, therefore, are reliant on the black market for many of their basic needs.

Shopping “on the street” is more expensive but it can be less time consuming, since the line-ups to enter the MLC stores can be horrific. Typically, people expect to wait for several hours, crossing their fingers that the things they want will not be gone by the time they get inside. The supply chain issues that plague many parts of the world are amplified in Cuba! If you want to read more about shopping in this rural area, please visit my website (www.jennicacuba.com) and go to the post entitled “My most recent Cuban adventure.”

I’m tentatively planning to return in May, if I can find a cheap flight; if I have enough support, I’ll fill my luggage with gifts again. In February, I took approximately 100 lbs. of medical supplies, thanks to the generous donations of friends and family. I would like to do the same thing next month, if possible. This time, I hope to take an updated list of necessities and distribute these items to even more people. I will be working with some of my closest friends in Cuba, revising my gift list and devising a plan to dispense “goodie bags” further afield.

If you’re interested in contributing to this venture – or simply want to know what I’m up to – please subscribe to my email list via my website (click on the “Contact” tab). I’ll send out a notice when I have a few more details sorted out and an exact date for travel. At present, I am targeting mid May for this trip. Donations can be made through PayPal or by e-transfer (for Canadians).

Should you prefer to contact me directly, instead of signing up through my website, feel free to send an email to jennicacuba@gmail.com. You can also find me on Facebook and chat with me via Messenger. I have a personal profile in my name, as well as a group called “JennicaCuba” and a page for my writing endeavors, “Author Jenny Cressman.” FYI, the trilogy of novels I’ve written are primarily set in Cuba, at a fictionalized version of the resort I frequent there! You’ll find information about them on my Facebook page, as well as my website. Hasta luego!

UPDATE FROM JENNY:

Cuba breaks my heart. I want to help. Can you help?

I don't usually use images that are not my own but this one grabbed my heart and squeezed. It seems so emblematic of Cuba right now. The people are struggling. They need support more than ever.

In February, I took about 100 lbs. of "humanitarian aid" to people in a rural, remote part of the country, as you may already know. This aid was made possible by friends and family members (you know who you are!) who responded to an appeal I put out prior to that trip. Your support gave my heart wings! And, it allowed me to lift the spirits of many people.I have a strong connection with the southern part of the Granma province, particularly to families in Marea del Portillo, Mota, Pilón and Niquero. Many folks there have been out of work since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, since much of that region's employment is tourism based. So, that's where I've been directing my assistance.

On May 17, I plan to return there with another load of medical/health supplies, but I need your support. Medicine-cabinet items like children's cough syrup, pain pills, anti-inflammatory aids, arthritis rubs, antibiotic creams, etc. are expensive! In Cuba, however, they are both extremelyexpensive and hard to find. If your kid has a cough and you have a headache you often just have to ride it out.

During my February/March visit, I saw first-hand how difficult daily life has become. The gifts I took were very much appreciated by the families who received them, and I'm confident they will share with others in need. My friends are that kind of people. They will be helping me to distribute whatever I can manage to take in May.

I want to take as much as possible to help the long-suffering people of Cuba. Although I generally try to avoid political commentary, I will say this: The government of Cuba has made some choices I do not agree with; people are often not able to make their own choices but must live with the consequences nonetheless.

I don't expect to change the world. I'm not trying to do so. But, if I'm able to make a difference in a few lives, I'm going to do it! I hope you are with me in spirit. If you also feel able to support me monetarily in this endeavor, I would greatly appreciate it. You can contribute via e-transfer to jennicacuba@gmail.com (in Canada) or through PayPal (if you don't have your own account, I can send you a "request" that allows you to use a credit card).

I hate to ask for money but, quite frankly, my budget is already being stretched quite a bit for this trip. However, I feel it is important to take more humanitarian aid while I can – and while the Cuban government is offering a duty-free exemption for suitcases filled with health/medical supplies. The deadline for this tax waiver is fast approaching, which factored into the trip's timing. I'm following my heart to Cuba.

If it is in your heart to assist me, I will be very appreciative, as will the Cuban people I'll be able to help. If you don't feel comfortable donating money, you can be supportive by sending good vibes!

XO ~ Jenny