The volunteers of the Guanajay Parish in Artemisa published a message of explicit gratitude to the United States government this Thursday after completing a day of distribution of humanitarian aid among vulnerable families in their community, as part of the 100 million dollar assistance program initiated by Washington.
We thank the Government of the United States for this humanitarian assistance, which is so essential for our people, as it allows us to support numerous families going through difficult times,” wrote the parish team in a message posted by Cáritas-Pinar del Río on Facebook.
The day started with a mass led by Father Daniel and lasted from the early hours of the morning until the end of the afternoon.
The volunteers traveled through neighborhoods and rural areas of the municipality: Gelabet, the American Farm, Ojo de Agua, Noroña, La Cooperativa, and the Reparto de la Granja, delivering the modules directly to the homes.
The delivery is part of the second shipment of humanitarian aid received by the Diocese of Pinar del Río, which arrived in Cuba on Monday with 700 food kits and 700 hygiene modules.
The Italian priests Daniele and Damiano coordinated the distribution alongside local volunteers in the parishes of Guanajay and Bahía Honda.
Each food kit contains rice, beans, oil, sugar, pasta, and canned fish; the hygiene modules include toiletries, detergent, and water purification products.
The first shipment of the month arrived on October 8 at José Martí International Airport, also containing 700 food kits and 700 hygiene modules, and its distribution began two days later in six rural communities of Candelaria and Quiebra Hacha.
The entire operation is part of the $100 million humanitarian assistance program for Cuba announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio on May 8, 2026, after meeting with Pope Leo XIV in Rome.
Of that total, 60 million dollars were allocated to Catholic Relief Services (CRS), which collaborates with Caritas Cuba and the parish network to deliver supplies directly to families, without the funds or goods passing through the Cuban government or the military conglomerate GAESA.
The program aims to reach nearly 200,000 households, equivalent to over 500,000 people across the island.
Priority criteria include elderly individuals living alone, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, people with disabilities, and families with children under five years old in vulnerable situations.
The Cuban regime, which initially labeled the offer as a "fairy tale" and "lie" through the words of Chancellor Bruno Rodríguez, ultimately accepted the aid, although it was presented as a contribution from the "people of the United States" —not from the Washington government— and accused the U.S. of using it for political purposes.
The parish publication concluded with a phrase that captures the spirit of the day: "Today Guanajay has demonstrated that, even amidst difficulties, it still has a big heart, willing hands, and a faith that turns into service."
Related videos:
Filed under: