Donation Guidelines: What We Can and Cannot Accept to Support Cuba

What We Accept: Donation Guidelines for Supporting Cuba

At A Lot of Love for Cuba, we’re deeply grateful for the compassion and generosity shown by our community. Every item you donate has the power to uplift lives. However, to make sure your contributions can truly be used, we’ve put together this guide to clarify what we can and cannot accept at this time. This helps us remain efficient, safe, and effective in delivering supplies where they are needed most.

Below is a breakdown of the categories we collect and some important details for each.

✅ What We Accept

🩺 Medical & Surgical Supplies🏥

Medical and surgical supplies are in constant demand, and we are thankful for every contribution that helps ease the burden on the Cuban people to obtain their own to access healthcare. We currently accept:

• Antibiotic creams (e.g., Polysporin, Bacitracin, etc)

• Antifungal creams (e.g., Clotrimazol, Hydrocortisone, etc)

• Lice and scabies ointments, sprays, creams and shampoos

• Peroxide and wound cleansers

• Gauze, bandages, and sterile pads

• Medical tape and wraps

• Blood pressure monitors and medications

• Over-the-counter medications (e.g., Tylenol, Advil, antihistamines)

• Prescription medications (must be in date)

• Injectable and IV medications (must be in date)

• IV administration supplies (IV bags, tubing, ports, etc.)

• Scalpels, blades and scalpel handles

• Colostomy & ostomy Supplies

• Diabetic supplies (test strips, glucometers, insulin, sensors, etc)

• Catheters and drainage bags

• Oxygen Masks and Tubing

• IV Tubing and fluids

• Sutures

• Cataract lenses and eye surgery supplies

• Shunt systems

• IV catheters and tubing

• Oxygen masks, regulators, and canisters

• CPAP machines

• Nebulizers and respiratory care equipment

• Breathing support apparatus

Please Note:

• Open bottles of OTC meds are accepted.

• All medications must be in date.

• We do not accept any expired medications, regardless of type or origin.

• If you’re unsure about a medical item, feel free to contact us — we’d love to help clarify.

🍞 Food

While food is heavy to ship, it remains one of the most requested forms of aid. We use any available suitcase weight to carry high-need, non-perishable foods. We accept:

• Canned goods and preserved proteins

• Dry goods like pasta, rice, beans, flour

• Baby formula and baby food

• Nutritional supplements (Ensure, protein powders, etc.)

We do not accept expired food items or anything that must be refrigerated or frozen.

🎒 School Supplies

Education changes lives. As part of our current school drive, we are especially in need of:

• Notebooks, paper, and writing pads

• Pens, pencils, markers, and crayons

• Pencil cases and sharpeners

• Craft supplies, scissors, glue

• Geometry sets and calculators

• Backpacks and lunch kits

👚 Clothing (Fundraising Use Only)

We are currently not accepting clothing for direct distribution in Cuba. However:

• We are happy to accept gently used or new clothing to be sold as part of our fundraising efforts, with proceeds supporting shipping and baggage costs.

• Clothing must be clean, in good condition, and seasonally appropriate.

If you'd like to donate clothing for fundraising, please indicate this clearly when donating.

🏠 Household Goods

We accept certain household goods that support entrepreneurship, day-to-day life, or energy independence, including:

• Bread makers, bakery mixers, and cooking equipment

• Durable kitchen tools

• Sewing machines and other cottage-industry tools

• Solar-powered lights, fans, radios, or chargers

• Rechargeable flashlights and utility items

We do not accept furniture, large appliances, or fragile goods.

🚫 What We Do Not Accept

To protect the health and efficiency of our operations, we cannot accept the following:

• Expired medications (including prescription, OTC, injectable, or IV)

• Expired food

• Unlabeled or unidentifiable liquids or pills

• Damaged, dirty, or incomplete items

• Soiled or used undergarments

• Refrigerated or frozen food

• Large furniture or appliances

• Items we cannot confirm are safe or usable

🧩 Why These Guidelines Matter

Every donation we receive goes through a careful intake process. We sort, evaluate, and prepare each item to ensure it is suitable for safe transport and use. Many donations require us to arrange pick-up or pay for inbound shipping - so sending expired, soiled, or unusable items adds extra cost and delay.

We want your generosity to go as far as possible. Following these guidelines helps us maximize the value of your gift.

🫶 Thank You for Your Support

Your generosity makes a difference. Whether you give physical items, make a financial contribution, or help us spread the word, you're helping Cuban families access basic human necessities. If you're ever in doubt about a donation, reach out to us first — we're happy to clarify.