A Cuban woman living in the United States recently took to TikTok to showcase a package she is sending to her family on the island, with items totaling around $60 from Walmart and Dollar Tree.
In the video shared by user @melicapote, she details that most of the purchases are intended for the children in her family—her nieces, nephews, and her husband's children—who remain in Cuba.
"I spent about $60 on little buys from Walmart to send to my family and my husband's family in Cuba. Almost everything is for the kids," the Cuban woman explained as she displayed the items laid out on a table.
The package includes treats like cookies, lollipops, curly hair shampoo, styling spray, and the classic Nesquik chocolate powder, which she notes, "the kids use for milk so they don't need to add sugar."
Additionally, the package contains some kitchen items and decorations for her niece's second birthday celebration, ensuring she receives part of her gifts and party accessories from abroad.
The video has garnered hundreds of views and numerous comments from other Cubans living overseas, many of whom relate to the practice of sending small packages filled with essentials and treats, given the scarcity and high prices affecting families in Cuba.
In recent years, sending remittances and parcels from the United States has become a crucial support system for Cubans as they face an economic crisis marked by inflation, food shortages, and the devaluation of the Cuban peso.
FAQs on Sending Packages to Cuba from the U.S.
What are common items included in packages sent to Cuba?
Packages often include essentials like food items, toiletries, medicine, and children's treats, catering to the basic needs due to shortages in Cuba.
Why do Cubans abroad send packages to their families in Cuba?
Due to economic hardships and scarcity of goods in Cuba, sending packages is a way for Cubans abroad to support their families with essentials and comforts they otherwise wouldn't have access to.