Months into the oil blockade imposed by President Trump, South Floridians are shipping boxes packed with canned meats, rice, beans, and other staples to hungry relatives in Cuba. The informal aid effort has swelled as Cuban families struggle to meet basic needs under fuel shortages and economic disruption.

Miami-Dade County residents have become a lifeline for relatives on the island, with reports describing parcels stuffed with food and essentials that arrive by various means. The need has grown as stores run dry and daily life becomes harder without reliable fuel for transportation and work.

The surge in package shipments through the informal network represents a sharp rise in U.S.-to-Cuba aid, though its scale and economic impact remain difficult to measure. The oil blockade has effectively pushed supply chains through family networks rather than formal markets.