A family from Matanzas opens the doors of their home every December to invite neighbors with fewer resources to eat, while utilizing a small patio to grow part of the food they consume and share with others in the community, in a practice that has become a survival alternative in the face of the crisis.
The story was published this Saturday by the official newspaper Granma, which presents the case of Raúl Benítez Montero and his family as an example of community solidarity, while also promoting the cultivation of backyards and small plots as an alternative to alleviate food difficulties.
"Every year, around the month of December, Raúl Benítez Montero and his family invite people from the neighborhood with fewer financial resources to their home," the publication states.
Among those who have participated in these gatherings is Lázaro Montalvo, an elderly man from the neighborhood who appreciates the family's gesture.
Benítez, president of the CDR Hugo Chávez in the municipality of Matanzas, maintains that the goal is for individuals in the most vulnerable conditions to “feel cared for”.
The initiative takes place in a context that the official press itself describes as particularly complex. The official article acknowledges that blackouts are severe, daily life has become more difficult, and there are numerous limitations, although it attributes a significant portion of these problems to the United States' policy towards Cuba.
In that context, Benítez dedicates part of his time to cultivating the small yard of his home, a production that, according to the text, helps to put food on the table for his family.
There, they have planted avocado, banana, soursop, citrus fruits, guava, coffee, and medicinal plants. They also maintain areas designated for raising pigs and chickens.
The man clarifies that this is not a production aimed at generating large profits, but rather a way to supplement the family's income and "extend a helping hand to many neighbors."
The article leverages its history to promote a practice that the official press portrays as beneficial in light of current challenges: that each person with the means cultivates "their own little piece of land."
According to Granma, there are already thousands of small yards or plots in Matanzas being used for this purpose, an alternative that is promoted as support for the household economy at a time when obtaining food remains one of the main concerns for many Cuban families.
The proposal reflects the extent to which domestic production has gained importance amid scarcity: from small plots of fruits and vegetables to the raising of animals, any available space can become an additional source of food.
The initiative of this family from Matanzas recalls other gestures of solidarity that have emerged in Cuba amid the food crisis.
In December 2025, residents of Mulgoba, in Havana, opened their homes to invite people who had nothing to eat on Christmas Eve for dinner. Some even offered to deliver food to those who were unable to travel.
Months later, in April, a group of Cubans organized a community soup event to distribute among neighbors in need.
Each person contributed what they could—food, firewood, utensils, or ingredients—and the meal ended up being enough for many residents of the neighborhood.
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