Helping a Cuban Street Food Vendor: "It Was Just What We Needed to Pay for Our House"

An act of kindness by Nicaraguan influencer Chino Moreno Nica touched the hearts of thousands on TikTok. He shared a video showing his support for a Cuban family selling street food in Nicaragua, along with the caption: "Helping our Cuban brothers and sisters. It broke my heart."

The video captures the influencer as he approaches a food stand run by a woman named Lady. She, along with her mother, husband, and brother-in-law, sells sandwiches, rice pudding, and fresh juices starting at seven in the morning until everything is sold out.

"We started selling in May, moving around as street vendors. We began here, then moved to work at the port, and now we're back," Lady explained to the content creator.

Chino Moreno Nica decided to purchase all the food on display—worth 600 córdobas—and handed Lady a total of 1,500 córdobas, divided between paying off their house and reinvesting in their business.

Lady's response was filled with gratitude and emotion: "It was almost exactly what we needed to finish paying for the house," she said, tears in her eyes, mentioning that she only needed 500 more pesos to complete the payment.

The TikToker replied, "Use this for your house payment and reinvest the rest."

The video gathered over 200,000 views and thousands of comments, many expressing solidarity with the Cuban vendor and thanking the creator for his support.

"Our Cuban brothers are incredibly hardworking," a user commented, sending blessings to both parties. Another praised both the business and the act of kindness: "Blessings for this venture of our Cuban brothers and to the young Nicaraguan for his generosity."

One viewer, identifying as Mexican, condemned the racist remarks directed at Cuban immigrants and sent them a warm embrace, acknowledging their daily struggles to succeed.

Another, known as "El CUBANO__NICA," shared his own experience of running a barbershop in Nicaragua and expressed gratitude for the warm welcome: "Every day, I thank God and all the Nicaraguans for the tremendous support they've given me, as it was tough at first, and I’m still fighting. Thank you for supporting us."

The emotional impact was widespread. "Even I cried watching that video. […] It's a constant concern to bring a bit of money home, especially for those, like them, far from their homeland," a user shared. Chino Moreno Nica responded, "Many of us suffer being away from home."

Apart from expressing gratitude for the messages, the TikToker urged viewers to support the business: "Don't forget to share the video so more people can see it and buy from her."

Chino Moreno Nica is known for his content, which regularly features acts of generosity towards street vendors and those in vulnerable situations—a format that has gained widespread popularity on TikTok across Latin America.

Lady's story highlights a common reality for Cubans residing in Nicaragua. Following the removal of the visa requirement for Cuban citizens by Daniel Ortega's government in November 2021, the country became a major migration path to the United States. When Nicaragua reinstated the consular visa requirement in February 2026, many Cubans who were already in the country chose to stay and set up small food businesses on the streets of Managua.

For Cuban families like Lady's, who venture out each morning to earn a living far from their homeland, selling Cuban sandwiches, desserts, and drinks has become a vital means of survival.