The young Cuban Lauren Lotti (@laurenlotti_), a content creator from Matanzas, rallied her entire family to distribute meals to vulnerable individuals on the streets. This act of kindness, funded by one of her followers, was captured in an Instagram reel that garnered over 31,000 likes.
"Thanks to a wonderful follower, we went out to distribute these meals. My grandma and aunt cooked with all their heart, my uncle helped us carry everything, and we gave special assistance to a lady we often see struggling and selling on the streets," Lauren shared in the video description.
The meals included rice, chicken, and plantains, prepared early at home. Lauren highlights that what should be ordinary has become a rarity: "Although it might seem like just a plate of rice, chicken, and plantains, in today's Cuba, this is a meal very few can afford."
In the video, Lauren highlights the dire situation with specific figures: "The truth is, food here is incredibly difficult to come by. A package of chicken is now over 6,000 pesos."
The Cost of Chicken: A Reflection of a Deepening Crisis
This stark reality has worsened in recent months. The enactment of Resolution 150/2026, which removed price caps on cut-up chicken and other essential imported goods, led to a rapid surge in prices nationwide.
On the Isle of Youth, the price of a chicken package soared from 3,130 CUP to over 7,000 CUP within days in July, as reported by various provinces. In Holguín, 10-pound packages were selling for between 5,000 and 5,300 CUP since April.
With the average state salary in Cuba hovering around 7,000 CUP per month, purchasing a simple chicken package can equate to an entire month's earnings.
Alarming Food Insecurity in Cuba
According to an April 2026 report by the Food Monitor Program, 96.91% of the Cuban population lacked adequate access to food, and nearly one in three households experienced at least one member going to bed hungry in the previous 30 days. Matanzas, Lauren's home province, ranks among the top five regions with critical levels of food insecurity.
This isn't the first time Lauren has turned her digital community's donations into tangible aid for vulnerable Cubans.
In April, she utilized follower contributions to purchase a basic food basket worth $50.56; in May, she provided a family with a bed to replace their floor sleeping arrangements and gifted her grandfather a work tool bought for 20,000 CUP; by July, she secured a larger home for her grandparents in Matanzas, thanks to her community's support.
Her account, which has amassed nearly 400,000 followers following the viral success of a blackout video with seven million views, has become a channel of sustained solidarity amidst the island's most severe food crisis in decades.
"It's becoming increasingly difficult to find anything to eat, even the most basic items," Lauren warned at the end of her video, encouraging her followers to share in the comments how much a package of chicken costs in their countries.
Understanding Cuba's Food Crisis
What factors have contributed to the rising food prices in Cuba?
The increase in food prices, particularly for chicken, is largely due to Resolution 150/2026, which removed price caps on essential imported goods, leading to rapid inflation.
How is Lauren Lotti helping address food insecurity in Cuba?
Lauren Lotti, with the help of donations from her online community, distributes meals and provides essential items to those in need, turning virtual support into real-world assistance.