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In a country where scarcity has become routine and the family tables of thousands of Cubans grow increasingly empty, a civic initiative is once again stepping up to provide what the State does not guarantee.
Hugo Puig González, owner of the K5 bar in Guanabo, confirmed that for the third consecutive year, he will organize a free year-end meal exclusively for homeless individuals and residents experiencing extreme economic hardship in his community.
Through a message posted on Facebook, Puig announced that on December 31st, starting at 3:00 PM, the terrace of his establishment will open its doors to welcome those who do not even have a hot meal to bid farewell to the year.
The event is being organized in collaboration with Restaurant Casaquinta, which is contributing to the preparation of the food and the logistics of the event.
The businessman made it clear that the invitation is not intended as an open offer, but rather as a gesture aimed at those who are homeless or facing severe material conditions.
"I would love to end the year by inviting everyone, but I can't," he wrote, and requested support so that the benefit reaches those who truly need it.
The warning is not casual.
In the midst of a prolonged crisis, where wages are insufficient, markets remain understocked, and social protection systems are nearly nonexistent, any act of solidarity risks being overwhelmed by the widespread urgency.
Puig insisted that if people without real needs take advantage of his initiative, someone who relies on begging or charity will be left without their only special meal for the end of the year, nor the brief moment of community that this gathering represents.
"I kindly ask you to help ensure that this food reaches the most disadvantaged. If someone who isn’t in need eats for free that day in my bar, a person who is truly in need—whose only joy this year-end may be that meal and that moment shared with others—might not be able to experience that brief moment of happiness," he emphasized.
In his message, he also emphasized the intention behind the gesture: to convey to those men and women that they remain visible, that they are not forgotten, and that they deserve to close the calendar year with a gesture of respect and humanity.
For many of them, the opportunity to sit at the table, share with others, and be treated with dignity is an experience that is not part of their everyday life.
In addition to announcing the dinner, Puig invited those who wish to contribute to channel donations through the group "With Love We Are All Together," a community network that supports homeless individuals, the sick, and families in extreme conditions throughout the year.
She shared numbers of cards in national currency and in foreign currency, along with a phone contact, with the aim of gathering resources to expand the aid.
CUP-- 9227959874427235
MLC-- 9235959873123454
Number to confirm: +5350233912
This gesture once again highlights a reality that is repeated in multiple corners of the country: while the state apparatus promises solutions that never materialize, the survival of the most vulnerable sectors largely depends on the spontaneous solidarity of citizens, entrepreneurs, and independent collectives.
Without the will of people like Puig and those who join his call, many of these Cubans would end the year without food, without companionship, and without even a minimal sign of protection.
This will be the third time that the K5 terrace becomes a New Year's refuge for those who have no other place to celebrate.
In 2024, more than 200 people were able to enjoy a traditional dinner, music, desserts, drinks, and even new clothing, thanks to the collaborative efforts of private businesses, residents of Guanabo, culinary ventures, and volunteers who contributed time, products, and services.
These sessions even included personal care actions, such as hygiene and changing the clothing of the attendees, restoring to them for a few hours a sense of dignity that is often denied to them.
The new call is in keeping with that same spirit, but in an even more challenging context.
The prolonged recession, the rising costs of food, and the weakness of public policies have driven more people into poverty, transforming these community initiatives from mere supplements into a real lifeline.
Thus, while the authorities continue to provide no effective answers to protect the most vulnerable, the end of the year once again finds a source of relief in civil society.
On the terrace of a bar in Havana, thanks to the efforts of entrepreneurs and locals, dozens of Cubans will be able to sit at a table that would otherwise be empty.
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