I often refer to my family as being "rich." And I know that I lead a charmed life.
In Cuba, before we left, our family was wealthy by any standard.
We had a big sprawling house (yes, it could be called a "mansion") in the city of Havana. We kids went to private school (El Instituto Edison). We spent Christmases on our family farm in Bejucal and summers on the beach at Varadero. We had a nanny, a cook and a chauffeur.
We left all of that when I was still very young and came here to America with a few suitcases apiece. Just enough to help us get through a few months of what we originally thought would be a short exile. That was in the spring of 1961.
Reality sobered us up quickly. Not only were we not returning to Cuba, we were no longer wealthy. In fact, we would have to depend on charity to help us along. (<— I hope that doesn't sound bitter. We were infinitely grateful that we were alive and that our family was together. And we were grateful for those gracious and generous souls who helped us.)
I remember one of our first Christmases in the U.S. where someone gave us girls Christmas stockings. They were red mesh and pre-packaged with coloring books and paddle-balls and easy-erase boards and candy canes.
We were amazed. Delighted! It was all so new. So different. And even though we had previously come from such a place of abundance, we were grateful. So, so grateful. Someone had remembered us in our pain.
Fast forward to today. I will never, ever forget the struggles we went through in the early days of being Cuban refugees in this amazing country. I will never forget the generosity of the charity we received. And I'm a great believer in social responsibility and giving back.
For years now we've been privileged to participate in the charity called Operation Christmas Child, organized by Samaritan's Purse.
How it works:
1) You take a regular size shoe box:
2) Fill it with useful items, small toys, hard candy to be given to either a boy or girl in the age ranges: 2-4, 5-9, or 10-14. Print out a label and mark accordingly. (We have in the past had the kids fill boxes for kids their own ages.) We also pray for the child that will be receiving the box.
3) Include a $7 donation to cover shipping and project costs, place a rubber band around the box and drop it off at a collection center near you.
How easy is that? If you're interested, it's not too late to do this. Drop off locations will be receiving boxes and donations until December 10th.
One of the highlights of participating in this project is that we volunteer, along with some wonderful friends in the inspection of and preparation for shipping of these boxes.
Here's Lucy with our blog friend, Jana of The Summer House.
At the warehouse we're assigned jobs and stations. This year we got to sort candy:
Inspect boxes:
Tape up boxes, scan and pack them in cartons for shipping:
I love that we get to work alongside good friends. These are our surfing buddies, the Millers. (Hi Josh!)
Thanks to the efforts of the volunteers, 30,000 boxes shipped from our local warehouse just in one day!
I confess that while I worked (and took pictures!) I was mindful of that Christmas so long ago when some generous person took the extra time to pick up a few red mesh stockings for some Cuban refugee children.
As I inspected the contents of each box, I thought of the people who packed the boxes and especially the delight with which they would inevitably be received.
I know, because I was that child.
Marta, I was also one of those children back in 1961. I had arrived with my mom and sister in September as my father was not allowed to board the plane with us. My mom had told us that since we were new in Miami, that Santa might not have our address and we might not get anything for Christmas. She was struggling just to get food on the table for us and I’m sure she did not want us to be disappointed. A Good Samaritan by the name of Mrs. Davis came around the building we lived at and handed out bags to all the mothers for their kids for Christmas morning. She had spent many years in Cuba living in Varadero and she felt a deep connection to all of us. Christmas morning, I was so surprised to find the gift bag at the bottom of my bed that I started shouting to my mom “Santa found me”. Inside I found a red mug in the shape of a cowboy boot, a matching bowl, crayons and coloring book. I thought it was the most wonderful gift I had ever seen. And guess what, I still have that mug and I drink my cafe con leche in it every morning. I always remember Mrs. Davis in my daily prayers and that mug reminds me what a great Country this is and how grateful I am for everything it has given me. It’s nice to know that Good Samaritans still exist.Maria
Maria,What an incredible story! Thank you for sharing. I believe that most people are good and can shine if given the chance.
I love that Santa found you. =D
Muchos Besos,
Marta
Wow. Maria, what a beautiful story. Your own guardian angel!
totally dig you preparing t5hose boxes & praying for the kids who receive them. Excellent story.
Hi! I found your site last week when i was helping my cousin find a recipe for “frituras de maiz” and since then I have read several of your blogs and thoroughly enjoyed them. Although my parents left Cuba before Castro took over and I was born in the USA I was raised with a strong sense of Cubanism. My parents are no longer with me and even though my mom taught how to cook Cuban food sometimes I turn to the net for help. In reading one of your blog’s today, you mentioned that your family spent Christmas On the farm in Bejucal. It just made me feel nostalgic-since that was my mom’s hometown and she and I visited it 8 years ago (2 years before she died). It was a time for my children to meet family that they had never met and to learn to appreciate the US for its freedom. I hope to continue to read your blogs and to be able to share some of your stories with my family. Gracias por todos tus cuentos y recuerdos de Cuba!