WHAT WE DO

For the last 25 years COR's co-founder Rachelle Ditmore has worked in the marginalized communities of California. She ran after-school programs and youth programs, which led her to the heart of Oak Park. After marrying Loren Ditmore they moved into a new home with their blended family and decided to leave their careers and use what they had to give back to the community they were living in. This led to the start of a small after school center inside a home they had purchased, called the House of Acts. Children flocked to this place to receive tutoring, snacks, but ultimately a safe place. Two years into starting the House of Acts women who were coming from exploitive and sometimes life-threatening situations were knocking on their doors asking for help. The Ditmore's knew then that the call of their ministry was bigger than kids programming, which led them to start City of Refuge; A place where those on the run for their lives could find HOPE, shelter and restoration. Now, CoR has a community outreach center, multiple safe-homes for Women and their children, Employment-development courses, Youth programs, and hosts many community events throught the year.