--- title: "Cubans Queue Daily for Food at Charity-Run Kitchen in Havana" url: https://newscentral.site/cubans-queue-daily-for-food-at-charity-run-kitchen-in-havana/ language: en publisher: "News Central Site" section: "World" published: 2026-11-13T13:08:30.000Z updated: 2026-11-13T15:27:03.178Z id: fa31d76d-1f7e-45fd-bff2-faa2343c7c7b source: "ABC News International https://abcnews.com/International/wireStory/charity-run-kitchens-havana-feed-growing-number-cubans-138103260" attribution: "Link to https://newscentral.site/cubans-queue-daily-for-food-at-charity-run-kitchen-in-havana/ and name News Central Site when you quote or summarize this story." --- # Cubans Queue Daily for Food at Charity-Run Kitchen in Havana Hundreds of Cubans rely on charity-run kitchens due to economic hardship caused by US energy restrictions, inflation, and dwindling government resources. In Havana's heart, a charity-run food pantry has become a nightly gathering spot for hundreds of people desperate for a meal. The lines form outside the Asociación Quisicuaba kitchen long before nightfall, with some individuals even camping out on the sidewalk in anticipation of the next day's distribution. When the doors finally open at 7 am, volunteers spring into action to distribute food to those who have secured a numbered plastic container. Retiree Fernando Fernández, a former cook and security guard, relies on this kitchen for his daily sustenance. "We're having a really rough time," he said, highlighting the struggles faced by many Cubans in the face of economic hardship. The country's protracted crisis has been exacerbated by U.S. energy restrictions, inflation, and dwindling government resources. As a result, charity-run kitchens like the one operated by Quisicuaba have become essential for vulnerable individuals, including retired professionals who once relied on state-subsidized food. Among those benefiting from these community kitchens are former doctors, teachers, and government workers who now find themselves struggling to feed themselves due to the economic downturn. As the economic crisis deepens in Cuba, community kitchens have become a vital lifeline for many struggling to make ends meet. Centers such as Quisicuaba, often located in religious buildings or affiliated with faith-based groups, have sprouted up across the island. One of these centers is a regular stop for former caretaker Fernández, who visits with his wife Josefa, but now goes alone due to her illness. With a monthly pension of 3,200 Cuban pesos, equivalent to just over $3, and assistance from Quisicuaba, the couple manages to survive. On a recent morning, Marelys Ponce, a single mother of five children, joined the line at Quisicuaba's kitchen. Her three youngest children attend school, where they receive lunch, but she relies on the center for her two oldest kids' meals. I started coming here because the situation is dire, she said, gesturing to her children. The people waiting in line alongside Ponce and Fernández represent a wide cross-section of society. While some may be homeless, most have long work histories or are still employed, but their earnings no longer cover their living expenses. Despite this, they continue to hold onto their dignity as they seek help from the community kitchen. Inside Quisicuaba's vast kitchen, volunteers busily prepare a hearty mixture of rice, eggs, and pasta, sometimes with a little chicken, while pouring chocolate milk into bottles. At 7 a.m., the doors open, and distribution begins, providing a vital lifeline for those struggling to access basic necessities like food. The economic crisis gripping Cuba has brought unprecedented hardship to its people, making everyday life a struggle for many. The once-thriving socialist system, which provided free education, healthcare, and subsidized food, is now showing cracks. Physician Enrique Alemán, president of Quisicuaba, points out that the traditional social safety net no longer suffices, as basic needs like food are increasingly unaffordable for many Cubans. Families are facing a growing sense of vulnerability due to financial, food, and healthcare insecurity. The US energy squeeze has severely disrupted life on the island, while tourism, a major source of revenue, has declined sharply. This double blow has exacerbated economic woes, leaving many Cubans struggling to make ends meet. Private markets have expanded in recent years, offering imported goods that were scarce just a few years ago. However, prices are often prohibitively expensive for ordinary Cubans, with essentials like eggs and cooking oil becoming luxury items. For instance, a carton of eggs costs 3,200 Cuban pesos, roughly the equivalent of a monthly pension, while a bottle of cooking oil costs 2,700 pesos, just shy of $3. In contrast, a doctor's monthly salary can reach 15,000 pesos, or about $18. The economic crisis in Cuba has led to a significant increase in poverty, according to Luis Carlos Battista, a Cuban American lawyer and analyst based in Spain. He attributes this growth in poverty to a combination of internal and external factors, including rising global food prices and the impact of US energy restrictions on food production. Prior to the current economic crisis, Cuba spent approximately $2 billion annually on food imports to support its rationing system, which provided households with essential items such as rice, beans, powdered milk, chicken, cooking oil, and eggs. However, due to the crisis, the government is no longer able to maintain these imports, resulting in delayed or missing subsidized food rations. Researcher Lisbeth Moya González has observed that while official rhetoric emphasizes progress toward socialism, daily life in Cuba is increasingly driven by individual logic. She notes that families are being forced to rely on private markets, remittances, and community support to obtain the necessities that were once guaranteed by the state. As a result of these economic challenges, charity-run kitchens in Havana have become a vital source of sustenance for an ever-growing number of Cubans, reflecting the country's deepening crisis. --- Source: [ABC News International](https://abcnews.com/International/wireStory/charity-run-kitchens-havana-feed-growing-number-cubans-138103260) Published by News Central Site: https://newscentral.site/cubans-queue-daily-for-food-at-charity-run-kitchen-in-havana/