Irene Herrera Hernández is 90 years old, has lived her entire life in Güines, Mayabeque province, and every Friday she crosses the door of the social dining room of the San Julián de los Güines Parish to secure a hot meal.
His testimony, posted by the parish itself on Facebook, captures in a single phrase the sentiment of millions of Cubans: "What worries me most right now is the entire situation in the country."
In the video, Irene describes her routine with a painful simplicity: "I get up at 9:00 AM. I go to the kitchen, staring at the clock until it hits 12."
That wait is the countdown to one of the moments of the week that guarantees a meal.
Behind that wait lies a story of hard work.
"I worked in the clothing factory, sewing skirts, making pants, 30 years working," she recounts.
Three decades of work under the Cuban socialist system now translate into a pension that, like that of most retirees on the island, amounts to less than 10 dollars a month, which is not even enough to cover the basic needs of an elderly person.
"Since the day I came for the first time, I don't miss a Friday," says Irene. It's not nostalgia or habit: it's a necessity turned into a ritual.
His view of the country is not bitter, but rather clear. "What I like most about the youth is seeing them with joy," he states. He adds that what he enjoys most about Fridays is "the food they make here; I have a wonderful time."
But the concern for Cuba does not leave her.
The parish frames its history as an act of community and faith: "Every time Irene eats here, she not only fills her stomach. She reminds herself that she is not alone. That heaven still has plans for her. That the love of God still has taste, smell, face, and name."
Irene's profile is no exception. It is a portrait of an entire generation.
The humanitarian crisis affecting elderly Cubans has left the State unable to respond: the Family Attention System dining facilities are operating irregularly, the supply booklet no longer compensates for shortages, and pensions are insufficient to meet basic needs.
In light of that void, the Church has taken the lead. A parish in Palma Soriano was providing food for nearly a hundred vulnerable individuals —mostly elderly— until a storm destroyed its solar panels in May.
The San Juan Methodist Church feeds more than 400 people every Sunday. In Matanzas, a parish dining hall supports over 80 elderly individuals with assistance from Caritas.
Güines, the municipality where Irene lives, is also facing outbreaks of dengue and leptospirosis in 2026, linked to the accumulation of garbage due to a fuel shortage, according to reports from the Cuban Institute for Freedom of Expression and the Press.
Irene concluded her testimony with the same dignity with which she began: "I wish you all the best."
A 90-year-old woman who worked for three decades for the State, who today watches the clock until noon, yet still finds the strength to wish the best for the world.
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