A group of neighbors led by Yosdiel Gattorno organized a solidarity soup event to distribute to those in need in their neighborhood and documented the experience in two videos posted on Facebook that touched the hearts of thousands of Cubans both on the island and abroad.
The idea emerged from a suggestion by a follower on social media. "A promise is a promise, and today, in a different way, we will try to do a good deed. A follower gave us the idea to make a stew with the help of people from the neighborhood, so we set the plan in motion," Gattorno explained in the video.
The tasks were divided among the neighbors: some took care of the firewood; others peeled the root vegetables and cooked; and other people kept the fire burning.
The cauldron, large enough to feed the entire neighborhood, was lent by someone from the area.
Once the soup was ready, they notified those in need to come over. "Some people brought bowls, others brought five-pound bags of rice, and some even came back for seconds," Gattorno recounted.
The scene, filled with Cuban humor and genuine emotion, was captured amidst laughter, jokes, and friendly discussions.
One of the participants also donated plates and utensils to the elderly who approached.
"I gifted them some dishes, I gave my elderly parents a few things for making a stew. It's all to help, right?" she said in front of the camera.
Gattorno did not hide the harshness of what he witnessed: "How hard it is to see so many people in need. But with a clove of garlic donated by one person, a pumpkin donated by another, and the desire to help, among laughter, dogs, and discussions, we managed, together, to do a good deed again."
This initiative adds to a growing trend of community solidarity in Cuba. In February, young people from Cienfuegos cooked solidarity caldosa for elderly individuals who are alone or without resources.
In April, a hotel in Cárdenas distributes stew every Sunday to those in need at the founding square.
And the YouTuber Juanka distributed 100 meals on the streets of Havana aimed at the elderly, women, and children.
In December 2025, neighbors of Mulgoba opened their doors under the slogan "If you don't have dinner, come by," in another demonstration of the solidarity that the Cuban state is unable to provide.
The backdrop is an unprecedented food crisis: 36% of the Cuban population experiences food insecurity according to the World Food Programme, rice costs 340 pesos per pound in Havana, and 80% of households have had to reduce the quantity or quality of what they eat.
In light of this situation, the caldosa —the quintessential communal dish of Cuban culture— has become a symbol of popular resistance. As Gattorno summarized at the end of the video: "One can always do a little bit, one can always do."
Filed under: