The charitable initiative "Huellas" has announced that over 300 boxes filled with donations have been sent to assist those affected by Hurricane Oscar in Guantánamo. Johanna Jolá Álvarez, the project's leader, revealed on Facebook that the team is finalizing the packing of the last boxes, which are set to depart for Guantánamo today.
Jolá Álvarez detailed the logistical challenge of including items such as two cribs with mattresses, three wheelchairs, three televisions, crutches, a stroller, and 140 boxes of densely packed donations. She emphasized, "These days have been arduous, filled with the task of procuring and collecting as much as possible, spreading love both in giving and in receiving." She praised the immense generosity of the people, who gave not from their surplus but from their scarce resources.
Community Support and Generosity
Special acknowledgment was given to the children who donated their toys, with a heartfelt letter from a child of Niurka Vega meant for friends in Guantánamo. Jolá Álvarez also highlighted contributions from the Mariana Grajales Primary School and the National Anti-Doping Center of Cuba, along with retirees who contributed despite their limited pensions.
Regarding the transportation of the donations, Jolá expressed gratitude to "our lineman friends who reached out to offer support," and to the Ministry of Transportation and Eduardo Rodríguez, ensuring that all collected items could set off for Guantánamo today.
Solidarity Efforts Across the Community
The sense of fulfillment within the "Huellas" team was palpable as they aided the loved ones of those affected, many of whom visited the project's headquarters to secure aid for their families who lost everything.
In the wake of the cyclone's devastation in Guantánamo, the hardest-hit area in the eastern region, Jolá launched a donation drive on social media. Numerous activists shared the same goal: to provide relief to families who lost their belongings.
Activist Yamilka Laffita, known as Lara Crofs, organized a humanitarian campaign to assist those impacted by the hurricane. The campaign aims to send non-perishable food, clothing, footwear, medication, toiletries, and toys for children.
Aiding this cause, the solidarity project "Aliento de Vida" announced the dispatch of the first six suitcases to Guantánamo, each weighing over 90 pounds, filled with clothing, shoes, linens, towels, food, and hygiene products. With this initial shipment of more than 540 pounds of donations, the organization seeks to bring relief to those who have lost everything to Hurricane Oscar, as shared by Yankiel Fernández, the initiative's leader, via Facebook.