House of Hope and Old Havana Cafe Smash Record for World’s Longest Cuban Sandwich
STUART, Fla. – Martin County did it! In a tremendous demonstration of community spirit, hundreds of Martin County residents gathered on Saturday, September 12, and set a new world record for the longest Cuban sandwich at a whopping 400 feet.
House of Hope and Old Havana Cafe joined forces to pull off the logistics challenge in L. Cpl. Justin Wilson Memorial Park in Palm City. It required 400 feet of Cuban bread, meats, cheese, pickles and mustard and a finely organized plan for 20 teams to complete each 20-foot section at the same time.
“What a day, truly, for community spirit,” said House of Hope CEO Rob Ranieri. “We had hundreds of people involved, from the sandwich builders, grill pressers, health and safety supervisors, sponsors and folks from all around the community who came out to support us.”
The event took place during Hunger Action Month. The challenge was fun, but it also called attention to the food insecurity that so many people are feeling in these difficult economic times. “We know there are individuals and families in our area who are never sure of where their next meal will come from or how they will afford groceries,” Ranieri said. “That’s a situation we address through House of Hope every day.”
The judges at the event took careful measurement of the long stretch of sandwich and confirmed that the old record, set in Tampa at 365 feet, had been broken. “What I loved even more than breaking the record,” said Chuchi Rivero, owner of the Old Havana Cafe, “was the spirit everyone brought to event. This is how a community comes together!”
During the event, which was free and open to the public, attendees could enjoy dominoes, salsa dancing, kids’ activities like face painting, and community booths featuring fellow local nonprofits. Many attendees also participated in the “Buy One, Give One” option, directly providing a piece of the sandwich to someone in need. The sandwich helped feed local individuals and families through House of Hope pantries and partner soup kitchens.
At the end of the sandwich-building and official judging, all of the 20 teams shared in the sandwich, and extra sandwiches were made available to the public for purchase. Profits benefit the House of Hope mission to empower the community to overcome hunger and hardship.
The Doris M. Carter Family Foundation was the event’s Presenting Sponsor, with additional support from Martin County Commissioner Ed Ciampi. The Foundation pledged a dollar for dollar match for the first $15,000 raised.
Additional event sponsors included n2 architecture + design; Harrison Real Estate; Fred and Pat Bartlett; HBKS Wealth Advisors; House of Hope Board of Directors; The Firefly Group; Baird Private Wealth Management; Frazier Creek Brewing & Distilling Co.; Holy Redeemer Catholic Church; Julia Perry; The Dan Bongino Show; and Zoomin Grooming Mobile Pet Spa.
House of Hope also thanks the nonprofit community partners, including the Humane Society of the Treasure Coast, Palm City Chamber of Commerce, Children’s Services Council of Martin County, and The Children’s Museum of the Treasure Coast, who shared their missions, provided activities for children and families, and joined in celebrating a shared commitment to supporting Martin County residents.
Event vendors added to the day’s food and fun while generously donating a portion of their sales to House of Hope. Participating vendors included Designz by Friday Face Painting, Kona Ice, Beachside Lemonade and Breath of Cuba.
Special thanks also go to Brigite Babine of Babine Solutions for managing the event’s sound system and to Paige Meyer of CBS12 for serving as emcee and helping promote the event through television and social media.
“We met our goal to break the record,” Ranieri said. “More than that, we proved once again that Martin County cares deeply about its people and will take action to help those in need.”
To learn more about House of Hope or make a donation, visit www.hohmartin.org or call 772-286-4673.
About House of Hope
Founded in 1984, House of Hope is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that empowers Martin County residents to overcome hunger and hardship. House of Hope touches the lives of more than 30,000 people each month, helping with basic needs such as food, clothing, furniture, financial assistance, as well as longer-term case management services that help build life skills for a more self-sufficient future.
The organization has service centers in Stuart, Hobe Sound, Indiantown, and Jensen Beach, with thrift stores in Stuart, Hobe Sound, and Indiantown. House of Hope’s Centers for Enrichment at Golden Gate in Stuart, in Jensen Beach, and at KinDoo Family Center in Indiantown offer free programs, technology, and workshops designed to enhance life skills, earning potential, health, and overall well-being.
House of Hope also operates the Growing Hope Farm in Palm City and several nutrition gardens that provide sustainable sources of fresh produce for clients as well as nutrition education and vocational opportunities to the community. For more information, visit hohmartin.org or call 772-286-4673. Updates and announcements can also be found on Facebook, Instagram, and X.