Volunteers will gather at L. Cpl. Justin Wilson Memorial Park in Palm City on Saturday, September 12, hoping to assemble a 400-foot Cuban sandwich in front of a crowd of spectators who can watch for free. The attempt, organized as a fundraiser for House of Hope, is timed to feed people facing food insecurity and homelessness across the community while chasing a food-world record set two years ago in Tampa.
The idea took shape after Chef Chuchi Rivero, owner of Stuart's Old Havana Cafe, toured House of Hope's facilities and pitched the record attempt to the nonprofit's CEO, Rob Ranieri, according to WQCS. Rivero believed the local community could top the mark set in July 2024 at One Buccaneer Place in Tampa, where volunteers built a 365.9-foot sandwich that was later taken to the New Beginnings association in Tampa; the outlet also discusses veterans and homeless individuals, per CiberCuba. That Tampa effort was organized by the International Cuban Sandwich Festival, the outlet notes.
Old Havana Cafe has teamed up with House of Hope for the fundraiser, according to WPEC, and the sandwich build is scheduled to begin at noon Saturday after the event opens to the public at 11 a.m. Registration for sandwich builders has already closed, but the station reports that the event welcomes everyone to attend, watch, and take part in activities celebrating Cuban culture, including salsa dancers.
A Matching Grant and a Buy-One-Give-One Twist
The Doris M. Carter Family Foundation is serving as the event's presenting sponsor and has pledged to match donations raised through the event dollar-for-dollar up to $15,000, according to information published on House of Hope's event page. The matching pledge is designed to double the impact of public giving on the nonprofit's community programs.
Attendees also have the option to buy a Cuban sandwich portion for themselves while funding an additional sandwich for someone in need, a Buy One, Give One model highlighted by Stuart Magazine. The magazine describes the initiative as a way for festivalgoers to directly feed local families facing hunger. Organizers scheduled the event during national Hunger Action Month and Hispanic Heritage Month specifically to link the local food drive to those broader awareness campaigns, WQCS reported.
CBS 12 News reporter Paige Meyer was selected to serve as the event's emcee and will help with the official judging of the sandwich's length, managing announcements during construction and the final measurement, according to The Firefly Group. House of Hope was also scheduled to appear live on Arc Florida on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, to promote the effort, per WPEC.
The Need Behind the Novelty
House of Hope operates food pantries and provides food and other resources to people in need throughout Martin, St. Lucie, and Okeechobee counties, helping families facing food insecurity across the Treasure Coast. In fiscal year 2024–2025, the organization distributed 1.63 million pounds of food, provided $274,978 in direct financial assistance, and delivered 7,231 enrichment services, according to data compiled by Candid.
Much of the fresh produce distributed through House of Hope's four Client Choice Pantries comes from Growing Hope Farm, a hydroponic operation established in Palm City in 2019, Stuart Magazine reports. Beyond food distribution, the organization runs community gardens, nutrition education, and enrichment programs for children, adults, and seniors, with a focus on early learning, life skills, and job readiness. In July 2025, United Way of Martin County awarded House of Hope $119,250 in Community Impact Grants to support its pantries, financial assistance programs, and enrichment centers, according to a report from The Firefly Group, which noted United Way has partnered with the nonprofit for more than 30 years.
A Park Named for a Fallen Marine
The event's venue carries its own local history. L. Cpl. Justin Wilson Memorial Park was named to honor a local U.S. Marine killed in action in Helmand province, Afghanistan, in March 2010, according to Treasure Coast. The park serves as a public family sports and recreational center, the outlet notes, making it a fitting gathering spot for a community-wide effort meant to stretch far beyond a single afternoon of sandwich building.
Whether the 400-foot target is reached, organizers say the proceeds will support House of Hope's mission and programs, with the giant Cuban sandwich itself intended to help feed people in need throughout the community. This is a developing story.
