Food Ministry
Every month The Overseas Initiative (TOI) sends $4,000 for food in Cuba. Cuban churches give it to their own neighbors, so the church is the help in its own community.
TOI is a 501(c)(3) Christian nonprofit in Birmingham, Alabama. Cubans lead the work, and our board covers all overhead.
Get updates from CubaWe believe the Cuban Church is strong, faithful, and uniquely equipped to serve its own communities. Our role is not to come in and do ministry for them, but to come alongside them: to encourage, equip, and support the work God is already doing through the local church.
TOI sends $4,000 a month for food in Cuba. Our team in Cuba buys the food there, and local churches give it out to the elderly and the poor in their neighborhoods.
We gift food and medicines to our partner churches. In turn, those churches distribute the provision to their neighbors, thus making them the beacons in their own communities, not the Americans.
Our philosophy of ministry is to have no American on the ground when food is distributed. That is by design, so the help comes from Cuban Christians and churches in their own communities.
Where your gift goes
TOI's Executive Director receives no compensation.
TOI's American staff is one part-time employee.
Our Board funds all overhead expenses.
We did that by design, so that 100% of donations go directly to Cuba.
The Overseas Initiative is a 501(c)(3), EIN 92-0668947. We receive no government funding, and TOI complies with all OFAC regulations.
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Why no American is on the ground when TOI's food goes out. 2 min.
From George Shamblin's YouTube. George is TOI's Executive Director.
What Cuban churches are doing, what to pray for, and how the food and seed funds are going.
Watch your inbox for news from Cuba. While you wait, here is why no American is on the ground when the food goes out.
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The most urgent need in Cuba right now is food. People are going hungry.
Cuba’s economy has collapsed under blackouts, food shortages and a currency that keeps falling. Close to 3 million people have left since 2020, by independent estimates. Those who stay have few ways to feed their families.
Even so, the church in Cuba is growing, and Cuban churches are feeding their neighbors. TOI’s food relief is humanitarian aid for families in poverty, given through those churches by a Christian charity whose board covers all overhead.
In 2026 a 40 foot container of about 38,000 pounds of food reached Cuba. A partner ministry gave the food. TOI handled the shipping and customs and got it to Cuba and into the hands of local churches.
TOI is planning another container.
Pray. For the families who receive the food, and for the Cuban churches who give it.
Give. 100% of donations go directly to Cuba.
Give nowStay close. One short email a month from Cuba. Get updates ↑
More videos from our Executive Director, George Shamblin: YouTube ↗ · Facebook ↗
