On November 18, 2024, a 40-foot container filled with essential food supplies was received at the warehouse of the San Francisco de Paula Home in Havana. The shipment was organized by the Cuban Association of the Order of Malta in Miami, thanks to a generous donation from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The shipment included over 15 tons of food such as chicken breast, tuna, canned meat, powdered milk, rice, black beans, and pinto beans. The aid benefited more than 2,200 people through 61 services — including soup kitchens, daycare centers, breakfast programs, nursing homes, and day centers — located in the dioceses of Pinar del Río, Matanzas, Cienfuegos, and the Archdiocese of Havana.

Distribution was coordinated locally by Alina Pérez, Rolando Suárez, and Jeanett Díaz, members of the Cuban Association of the Order of Malta, who also actively participated in unloading the container together with members of each community.

Juan Tomás O’Naghten, Project Director in Cuba for the Association, and Antonio Acosta-Rua, First Counsellor of the Embassy of the Order of Malta in Cuba, were present and actively assisted in the unloading and distribution. Despite some logistical challenges, the team completed the delivery with dedication and efficiency.

The arrival of the container was especially timely, during a period marked by complex weather conditions and temporary operational constraints that impacted some services. Thanks to careful coordination and collective effort, the food reached those who needed it most.

The Embassy and the Association reaffirm their commitment to serving the most vulnerable and express deep gratitude to all volunteers and collaborators who made this effort possible.