A Cuban mother living in Homestead, Florida, reached out on social media last Tuesday, asking for help in finding a job after her husband, the family's main breadwinner, was involved in a serious accident.
In a TikTok video, Ana Castillo (@ana.r.castillo) shared that she has four young children, aged 5, 8, 9, and 12, as well as a 20-year-old stepson, and described the situation as devastating for the entire family.
Visibly emotional, Castillo stated, "All I ask for is a job. I know that with work, I can get through this." However, she also noted that she currently lacks the necessary legal documents to work in the United States, making it difficult to secure employment. Despite this, she emphasized her willingness to accept any job opportunity to support her family during this challenging time.
Castillo also urged drivers to be cautious, especially those with families, in an effort to prevent tragedies like the one that has impacted her home. "Men, please drive carefully, very carefully," she stressed.
In her message, she thanked those who could offer assistance and expressed confidence that she would overcome this adversity. In another video, Castillo explained that her family came to the United States to build a better life and that neither she nor her husband had ever asked for anything from anyone before. "I just want help finding a job," she reiterated.
Castillo also mentioned that she is looking for a rental home and, despite receiving criticism for seeking help online, she remains determined to move forward. In another post, she said she is searching for a new rental property in Hialeah to be closer to the hospital where her husband is being treated. "At least two bedrooms," she specified.
Community Support Among Cuban Migrants
Several Cuban residents in the United States have offered support to fellow countrymen in vulnerable situations. Recently, family, friends, and other members of the Cuban community in the U.S. raised funds to help repatriate the body of Gianny Estévez García, a 25-year-old who died in a tragic traffic accident in South Dakota on the early morning of September 18.
Estévez, who had been in the U.S. for two years and lived in Fort Myers, Florida, died when the truck he was driving collided with another truck 34 miles northwest of Philip in Haakon County, according to a report from the South Dakota Highway Patrol.
In recent days, a Cuban entrepreneur donated several bags of fish, lobsters, and shrimp to fellow Cubans in hardship in Miami, as a gesture of solidarity amidst the tough economic situation many migrants face. This act highlighted the spirit of community and mutual support within the Cuban diaspora.
Influencer Dairon Cano (@dairon_cano_champions) shared a message of gratitude on TikTok, thanking the fish market owner on behalf of the Cuban families who will receive the food aid.