Plano food pantry brings hope to Kendall County area residents in need

PLANO – Two sisters are bringing hope and sustenance to Kendall County residents who need both.

Felicia Holmes and Yoko Tubbs operate Plano’s Hope Food Pantry and Outreach Ministry, from which they provide food to families in need from Oswego, Yorkville, Plano and Sandwich.

With Holmes as pastor and Tubbs as co-pastor, the two hold non-denominational Christian services from the second floor of a commercial building at 1200 W. Route 34, Suite 6 in Plano.

“We’re not your traditional church,” Holmes said. “We teach hope and love.”

“We don’t want people to lose hope,” Tubbs chimed in.

Every Sunday after services, the two go to the Yorkville Jewel Store where they receive donations of meat, produce and baked items.

They then return to their ministry, adding the goods to boxes filled with pasta, beans, peanut butter, jelly, soup, rice, toiletries and other staples.

Families come to the food pantry every Sunday afternoon, walking away with a box of food and hope for the future.

After growing up in Chicago, the two sisters found their way to Aurora, where Tubbs still lives, while Holmes recently moved to Plano. They have outgoing personalities.

“We balance each other out,” Yoko said, laughing, before her sister jumped right in on that thought.

“I’m the talker. She’s the brains,” Felicia said. “We’re best friends.”

The sisters are looking to do more.

“We want to offer classes to help promote self-sufficiency,” Tubbs said.

What they envision is their own version of a home economics course, teaching skills they have learned in life, including stretching the food budget by using coupons, making baked goods and sewing.

“We want to pass on knowledge that we have gained,” Tubbs said. “This is what we would like in the future.”

More immediately, the pair are looking at expanding the food pantry operation to the first floor of the building, which would allow them to create a space to store and display the foodstuffs and where people could have a “shopping experience,” Holmes said.

Doing that will involve installation of shelving, refrigeration and other improvements, Holmes said.

Acquiring food on a weekly basis for so many families requires donations and the community has been generous, Holmes said.

Community Christian Church of Yorkville collected food and supplied gift cards, while Flight Tasting Room & Bottle Shoppe in Yorkville made a cash donation.

In addition to the Yorkville Jewel, there have been in-kind donations from the Oswego Home Depot, the Yorkville Target, the Plano Walmart and the Oswego Meijer.

And during the growing season, fresh produce for the pantry comes from the nearby Plano Community Garden.

Unlike some food pantries or other charitable operations, the Hope pantry does not set income limits for its clients.

Holmes said that their clients, who she refers to as “family,” are mostly hard-working people with jobs who are simply having a difficult time getting by.

“It’s too much of a stipulation to put income limits on people,” Tubbs said.

“It’s not right when you can’t get food stamps and you can’t get food,” Holmes added.

Their work to help others has not gone unnoticed.

Holmes and Tubbs recently were invited to appear before the Kendall County Board, where they received thanks and encouragement for their efforts.

“Both of you are so courageous,” county board Chairman Scott Gryder said.

“We want people never to give up hope and to be treated with dignity,” Holmes said. “Hope is always at the forefront of our minds.”

For those looking to make a donation, or who need assistance, the food pantry may be reached at hopepantrynfp@yahoo.com or by calling 630-273-2537.