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Yado community members packing Ubuntu by Yado Taste of Home Kits together

Packing Taste of Home Kits for families in our community.

Yado's community giving program

Ubuntu by Yado

“I am because we are.”

A taste of home for families who need it most, and support for the African and Caribbean community that built our Chicago market.

Nominate someonePartner with us

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October 2026

Program launch

Up to 8

Free Taste of Home Kits every month

Chicago & U.S.

Pick up at our store or we ship it

Our story

What Ubuntu means to us

Ubuntu is a Southern African idea that lives in every African home: a person is a person through other people. We are a Black, African women-owned market on 87th Street in Chicago, and our customers are family to us. Many came here from Lagos, Accra, Douala, Kingston or Port-au-Prince, and we know how much it means to cook a meal that tastes like home.

Ubuntu by Yado is how we give back: food and care kits for newcomers and families going through a hard time, and support for the students, associations and community groups who keep our cultures strong.

African family sharing a home-cooked meal together

“Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu.”

A PERSON IS A PERSON THROUGH OTHER PEOPLE · ZULU PROVERB

How it works

From a nomination to a kitchen table

Anyone can nominate a family, a neighbor, a new arrival, or themselves. Every nomination stays private.

01

Tell us about them

Fill in the short nomination form: who they are, where they live, and the foods they miss from home.

02

We read every one

We choose up to 8 households each month. If we're full, we keep them on the list for the next month and let you know.

03

A taste of home arrives

Kits go out the first week of each month, for pickup at our Chicago store or shipped anywhere in the U.S.

What's inside

Taste of Home Kits

Each month we pack free kits of African and Caribbean staples and everyday care items, shared through partner organizations and nominations from our community.

Ubuntu by Yado kitchen kit with tomato paste, Maggi cubes, pap, mackerel and plantain chips

Kitchen staples

Kitchen kit

Tomato paste, seasoning cubes, ogi (pap) for breakfast, mackerel in tomato sauce and plantain chips for the kids.

See what's inside →
Ubuntu by Yado self-care kit with African black soap, shea butter, net sponge, toothbrush and toothpaste

Everyday care

Self-care kit

African black soap, a bar of everyday soap, an African net sponge, pure shea butter, toothpaste and a toothbrush.

See what's inside →

Ubuntu by Yado launches in October 2026. We'll share how many kits we've delivered here as the program grows.

Kitchen kit

What's inside the Kitchen kit

Everyday staples for a proper home-cooked meal. Items may change month to month depending on stock.

De Rica tomato paste

De Rica tomato paste

View in store →
Maggi seasoning cubes

Maggi seasoning cubes

View in store →
Oloye pap (ogi) for breakfast

Oloye pap (ogi) for breakfast

View in store →
Geisha mackerel in tomato sauce

Geisha mackerel in tomato sauce

View in store →
Asiko sweet plantain chips

Asiko plantain chips

View in store →
← Back to the kits

Self-care kit

What's inside the Self-care kit

The African skin, body and daily care we grew up with. Items may change month to month depending on stock.

Dudu-Osun African black soap

Dudu-Osun African black soap

View in store →
Madina shea butter and aloe vera bar soap

Madina shea & aloe bar soap

View in store →
African net sponge

African net sponge

View in store →
RA pure yellow shea butter

RA pure yellow shea butter

View in store →
Moringa toothpaste for daily oral care

Moringa toothpaste

View in store →

Plus a new toothbrush in every kit.

← Back to the kits

Nominate someone

Know someone who could use a taste of home?

A neighbor struggling to put food on the table, a friend who just arrived and misses home, or you. It takes about 3 minutes.

Up to 8 households each month

One kit per household every 3 months

Every nomination stays private

Open the nomination form

Please make sure the person you nominate knows and is happy to be contacted.

Community programs

Standing with the groups that keep our cultures strong

Student associations

African and Caribbean student associations get 10% off for members, and we can help supply food for culture nights. Ask your association for the code, or email us.

Community associations

Members of African and Caribbean community, cultural and professional associations get 10% off through their organization.

Celebrating our culture

Free guides to African and Caribbean food, plus spotlights on the restaurants, cooks and creators who keep our traditions alive.

Read our guides →

Partner with us

Let's feed our community together

Do you serve African and Caribbean families? We'd love to work with you, whether that's Taste of Home Kits for the families you serve, food for an event, or a member discount.

Refugee & immigrant services

Community associations

Churches & mosques

Schools

Student groups

Email info@yadomarket.comCall 872-802-4724

Or visit us at 1651 E 87th St, Chicago, IL 60617

Questions

Ubuntu by Yado FAQ

Who can be nominated?

Anyone in the U.S. who could use a taste of home: families going through a hard time, newcomers from Africa or the Caribbean, students far from family. You can also nominate yourself.

Does a kit cost anything?

No. Taste of Home Kits are completely free, including shipping within the U.S. or pickup at our Chicago store.

How are families chosen?

We read every nomination and choose up to 8 households each month, giving priority to families in the greatest need. If we're full, we keep the nomination for the next month and let you know.

Is my nomination private?

Yes. Nominations are kept private and are only used to contact the nominee about their kit. We never share names or stories without permission.

How often can a household receive a kit?

One kit per household every 3 months, so we can reach as many families as possible.

Can I donate?

Ubuntu by Yado is a community giving program of Yado African & Caribbean Market, not a registered charity, so we don't accept donations. The best way to help is to nominate someone or tell a community organization about us.

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Ubuntu by Yado is a community giving program of Yado African & Caribbean Market. It is not a registered charity, and we do not accept donations. Kits are limited each month and given at our discretion.