The activist Yureibys Torresilla opened the doors of his home again in Sancti Spíritus to distribute condensed milk and roasted coffee to homeless individuals in Cuba, thanks to donations from Cuban supporters residing in the United States.
Torresilla shared the action in a video on Facebook where he thanks two specific donors: a special follower who wanted the beneficiaries to "indulge in some sweetened condensed milk," and a follower described as a doctor who also made the delivery of sweetened condensed milk and roasted coffee possible from the United States.
"The doors to my house have opened again, thanks to supporters from the United States," wrote Torresilla when posting the video, a phrase that suggests this is not the first time he has organized such a charitable action.
In the cast, Yanalli González and Nelys Valdés also participated, who assisted Torresilla in distributing the products to the so-called "brothers of the street," a term popularly used to refer to homeless individuals in Cuba.
The images show a large group of people gathered in front of a yellow building with ornamental wrought iron, in what appears to be a Cuban neighborhood, under the bright midday sun.
Condensed milk and coffee are products of high symbolic and practical value in Cuba: scarce, rationed, and with prices in the informal market that far exceed the average salary of the population. For people experiencing homelessness, who do not have access to the rationing booklet or institutional support networks, receiving these products represents a gesture of dignity amidst the crisis.
The initiative by Torresilla is part of a growing trend of organized civic solidarity through social media, where Cuban activists and influencers raise donations—mainly from the diaspora in the United States and Spain—to distribute food directly to those in greatest need, without state mediation.
Similar cases have been documented in various provinces of the country over the past few months. In February 2025, a young content creator delivered food, clothing, and supplies to the elderly and homeless individuals on the streets of Havana. That same month, a man gave his coat to an elderly person living on the streets in Matanzas. In January 2025, a solidarity group provided clothing, soup, and tea to an elderly person without a home in El Vedado.
At the end of 2025, the business 5K Bar and the group Con Amor Todos Juntos offered a free dinner for over 250 vulnerable Cubans in Havana on New Year's Eve, after raising 42,200 Cuban pesos and five MLC in donations.
This dynamic transforms platforms like Facebook into informal humanitarian channels that fill the gap left by the Cuban State in providing care for the most vulnerable sectors of the population, amidst a severe crisis characterized by food shortages, prolonged blackouts, and the deterioration of social services.
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