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The San Lucas Episcopal Church in Ciego de Ávila visited the site of the former Motel Las Cañas this Wednesday and provided prepared meals to over 40 vulnerable individuals, including children on school break, teenagers, and pregnant women.
The priest Roberto Faya Amaro posted the event on his Facebook profile with images of the prepared food: white rice, vegetable soup, deli meats resembling mortadella, and fried ripe plantains, served in cardboard boxes.
"To God, infinite thanks for allowing us to be channels of His Love and Mercy. More than 40 boys and girls, adolescents, and pregnant young women received these meals prepared with all love and dedication today," wrote Faya Amaro.
In addition to food, the congregation brought footwear donated by its own members: a pair of shoes and some sandals.
"We also brought a pair of shoes and some sandals donated by brothers from our Community," the rector detailed.
The former Motel Las Cañas, located on the outskirts of the city, was used as a healthcare center during the COVID-19 pandemic and today houses families in precarious situations.
This action is part of a ministry of food assistance supported by private donors that the church has been developing for months in Ciego de Ávila.
In April, St. Luke's Episcopal Church had already distributed 46 meals over two weekly sessions—Tuesdays and Thursdays—to elderly individuals and vulnerable people in the city.
The initiative addresses a gap that the Cuban state itself has acknowledged: in March, an official from Labor and Social Security publicly admitted that Cuba does not have the resources to assist all vulnerable individuals: "This budget is not a comprehensive budget that allows us to reach all people."
In Ciego de Ávila, the food crisis is particularly severe: the meat distributed through the rationing booklet is only available for children under six years old, leaving elderly adults and others without access to basic proteins.
In December 2025, cases of children rummaging through garbage in search of food were documented in that same province.
Amid the collapse of the social assistance system, churches have taken on a prominent role throughout the country. Last Monday, a Methodist congregation in Trinidad, Sancti Spíritus, distributed hot food despite the rain, cooking outdoors over wood fires.
Faya Amaro concluded her post with a commitment that encapsulates the work of her community: "We will continue to bring material bread and spiritual nourishment to the sons and daughters of God in these lands."
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