HOW IT WORKS

Getting Aid To Cuba

Support the Cuban People works every day to ensure that food, medicine, and essential supplies reach those in need across Havana and surrounding rural areas. But getting these materials to Cuba is far from simple. Here’s how it works—and how you can help us make it possible.

A woman in a green shirt buying papayas and watermelon at an outdoor market

Our Primary Mission: Distribution in Cuba

Our organization focuses on receiving and distributing humanitarian aid on the ground in Havana.

Every month, we get dozens—sometimes hundreds—of pounds of food, medicine, and materials delivered to us by individuals or through cargo shipments. Our priority is ensuring that what reaches Cuba gets into the right hands—safely, equitably, and quickly.

Panoramic view of downtown Havana, Cuba, with historic buildings, a waterfront promenade, and the Capitol building in the background, bathed in sunlight.
A pile of various medicine bottles and blister packs, including aspirin, ibuprofen, vitamins, and cold relief medications.

The Challenge of Transporting Aid

Due to strict airline policies and Cuban customs regulations, we cannot transport large quantities of supplies in our personal luggage. We’re limited to two 50-lb bags per traveler, and those are typically filled with personal items and priority materials for our community and families.

We can sometimes take 1–2 pounds of medicine if we have space—but we’re unable to manage or guarantee personal transport of large donations. We prioritize high-quality and non-expired antibiotics, thyroid medications, and difficult to find specialty meds like those that treat Parkinson’s disease. If you want to donate these, please be in touch and we will do what we can to personally transport those medicines. 

What You Can Do If You’ve Collected Supplies

We deeply appreciate the time and care it takes to gather medicine and supplies. Here are your best options if you’ve already collected items and want to get them to Cuba:

Multiple organized images of medical supplies, medications, and first aid items, including bottles, pill boxes, bandages, syringes, and medical equipment.

  • If you know someone going to Cuba:

    • Ask if they’re willing to bring a small box or bag of medicine.

    • We can receive the items in Havana and handle local distribution.

    • This is often the fastest and most direct way to get supplies into the country.

    This “courier chain” model is how most of our aid reaches us. Our team is built for distribution, not transport—and we’re grateful for travelers who make this possible.

  • If you’d like to send medicine directly, you can use a third-party shipping service like Panavana:

    • Ship your box to their Miami warehouse.

    • They handle the cargo and customs process.

    • We receive it in Havana and ensure it’s distributed to those in need.

    Estimated cost: ~$282 to send 100 pounds of aid($2.49 per pound + 13%+ tax and fees)

    This is the most reliable method when you want to ensure large donations arrive.

  • In limited cases, we can pick up donations, or accept them by mail, and hold them until:

    • We accumulate at least 100 lbs to ship in bulk, and

    • We’ve raised enough funds to cover shipping costs.

    Please note: We cannot guarantee a delivery timeline. If you choose this route, patience is essential.

The Most Impactful Way to Help

The best way to support our mission is to donate funds. We use these resources to:

  • Pay for shipping costs

  • Purchase food and medicine locally and abroad

  • Sustain our operations and reach more communities

Even small donations go a long way when pooled together.

Four smiling children standing in line outdoors, looking at the camera.

We’re incredibly grateful for your support—whether you donate, ship, or simply spread the word. Together, we can ensure that aid not only reaches Cuba but is put directly into the hands of those who need it most.