Solidarity with Cubans:
Help bring urgent relief to those who need it
Please consider making a monetary or in-kind donation in support of Elise’s efforts to
bring basic essential goods to Cubans.
Image courtesy of Mehmet Turgut Kirkgoz
What's Happening in Cuba?
The situation in Cuba is dire. The near collapse of the island’s tourism sector, deteriorating US-Cuban relations under Trump, and heightened geopolitical tensions – all on the tails of the pandemic – have contributed to a devastating crisis.
In response, more than 1,000,000 Cubans have left since 2021. Those who remain on the island are struggling to meet their most basic needs.
Soaring inflation in conjunction with the US blockade have made essential goods, including food, medicine, and sanitary products, unaffordable for most Cubans. Water and fuel shortages , combined with daily electricity blackouts in some regions, complicate daily life. Caring for children, the elderly, and sick loved ones in such circumstances is exceedingly difficult. Hurricane Melissa's arrival last week wreaked further havoc on the island: the United Nations declared it the most intense storm to hit Cuba in decades.
Despite making significant strides in recent decades, Cuban society remains stratified. Those hit hardest by the crisis are minoritized Cubans: Black and Afro-descendent families, women-headed households, and those without family abroad to support them.
What You Can Do
On November 17, 2025, I will be traveling to Cuba to learn how locals are navigating economic and political uncertainty on the island. In preparation for my trip, I am collecting items and raising funds to bring urgently-needed relief to Cubans. Items include but are not limited to:
Basic food stuffs (baby food, dry goods)
Medicines and painkillers (ibuprofen and paracetamol, ointments and disinfectants, syringes, bandages)
Sanitary products, personal toiletries, and contraceptives (pads, tampons, toothpaste, condoms)
100% of funds raised will be either used to purchase supplies or handed directly to Cubans to cover the exorbitant costs of medical care. Every dollar/euro/franc helps!
Items are being selected in consultation with Cubans currently on the island and their family members.
How to Contribute
Monetary donations can be sent to me, Elise Hjalmarson, directly.
IMPORTANT: When you make your transfer, please add a note indicating that it is for ‘CUBA’.
From Canada: send interac e-transfers to elisehjalmarson@gmail.com
From Switzerland: via TWINT at +41 77 954 49 31
From elsewhere: via PayPal to elisehjalmarson@gmail.com (or contact Elise)
For those in the Okanagan Valley, contact Elise at +1 (510) 280 4914 to arrange pick up or delivery of in-kind donations.
Why not use a fundraising platform?
Wouldn’t that be more efficient? Why is this posted on my personal website?
Because of the United States’ longstanding blockade (commonly referred to as ‘economic sanctions’) against Cuba, popular fundraising websites such as GoFundMe and FundRazr are prohibited from collecting money destined for the island. As a result, both fundraising campaigns that I created, including on websites developed and based in Canada, were subsequently banned.
Please don’t hesitate to direct any further questions to Elise at the phone number or email address listed above.