Lee Mulcahy and his mother, Sandy Mulcahy, known to some as “Mama Sandy,” are expanding their charitable efforts to provide clean water filters, medicines and other supplies to those in need in developing countries. Where to next, you ask? Cuba. The pair have previously conducted charity work in Kenya and South Africa.
Lee explained that, despite the strained political climate, traveling to Cuba from the States is possible when the purpose is to support the Cuban people, among a list of other approved reasons for travel there. The country has long struggled with a lack of resources and poverty due to political issues, including a longstanding U.S. embargo. As Lee put it, “The Cuban people have nothing. There’s a U.S. embargo, and they don’t have basic medicines.”
In their upcoming mission, the two will bring items such as expired medications that would otherwise be discarded in the U.S. “A lot of people think that we should fix the problems in our country before helping others abroad. The things that we’re taking to Cuba, like expired medicines, would be thrown away anyway,” Lee said.
Lee and Sandy plan to travel to Cuba in early December to distribute the donations. Describing their travel plans, Lee detailed the flight route. “It’s Aspen to Dallas, of course, and then Dallas to Miami. And from Miami, American [Airlines] flies to about six destinations in Cuba.” Their trip will take them to various parts of the country, where they will have the opportunity to engage with the locals and deliver aid.
The duo felt a calling to serve the community in Cuba based on a number of interactions with Cubans who have faced severe economic hardship, as well as their Christian faith.
“We met a Cuban engineer, and his mother’s family in Trinidad had 13 homes before the revolution, and they ended up with just one. He was working as an engineer being paid [the equivalent of] $20 a month by the government, and he could not survive. So he quit his job to run a bed and breakfast with his mother,” Sandy shared. Another Cuban they met, a former university professor, left his $22-a-month job to support his family because, as he relayed to the Mulcahys, “When a bag of chicken costs $10 you can’t last for very long.”
Despite such challenges, Lee and Sandy witnessed resilience among the Cuban people. While the Cuban government has been historically oppressive, Lee said, recent protests have led to progress, including allowing Cubans to own up to three businesses. This has made it possible for more individuals to pursue independent work, such as running bed and breakfasts, known as “casas particulares.” Due to U.S. restrictions, American visitors are not allowed to stay in government-run hotels, but casas particulares allow tourists to stay with Cuban hosts and families, providing a unique cultural exchange and a little extra economic support to locals.
Lee said that the contrast between the conditions in Cuba and the U.S. are striking. “There’s only 70 cars per 1,000 people, and a lot of those are the old ‘50s American cars,” he estimated. For comparison’s sake, the U.S. has about 900 cars per 1,000 people. Additionally, many basic services are lacking, including access to clean drinking water. “The piping, the infrastructure is so old it’s not even safe for the citizens to drink the water. They have to buy water from a guy who comes by on a cart,” he observed.
Lee and Sandy are hoping to help address the water crisis in Cuba by distributing water filters that can last up to 20 years and provide clean drinking water for families in need. Notably, the cost of one of these filters is only $23, and it will filter a million gallons of water. The filters are similar to those they have distributed in rural Kenya, where they helped many families access safe water in areas where digging wells is not feasible.
The Mulcahys’ commitment to clean water first began with Sandy’s work in Kenya, where she has been involved in constructing water wells and distributing filters for many years. Recently, she returned to Kenya to raise funds for a 15th and 16th water well. “I just try to run after my 89-year-old mom to tell you the truth,” said Lee.
To support their mission, the pair is asking the community to contribute by donating items such as expired medicines, laptops and water filters. They believe that these donations can make an impact on Cuban families.
Lee and Sandy assure that these items will reach Cuban families in need, as they embark on their mission to bring clean water and essential supplies to people that lack access to these basic necessities.
As Lee said, “If we can help a little bit, then I think it’s worth it.”
For those interested in contributing to their cause, call 970-309-6759 or 817-925-9272 for questions and a list of donation drop off locations, including St. Mary of the Crown (397 White Hill Road, Carbondale). Donations are due by Dec. 1.