Community 4:12
Introducing the East Aurora Restore Team
If you have come to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together. -Australian Aboriginal Activitst, Lila Watson
Since 2003, Community 4:12 has been working in East Aurora with the goal of creating a model of community development and restoration that can be replicated in other communities. We've established programs around educational and housing challenges that many under-resourced neighborhoods face and have replicated some of those in Joliet. A large part of our strategy has been to mobilize Community Christian Church attenders to come and serve in lower-income communities. While this has been e Read More…
East Aurora Gift Mart Video
Thank you again to everyone who played any part in making our East Aurora Gift Marts happen! And if you weren't able to join us that day, take a look at this video that captured some of the highlights! http://youtu.be/F7WxqTnWSq0
Volunteers Needed for Free Legal Clinic in East Aurora
On Saturday, February 4th, we will host our first monthly free legal clinic in partnership with Administer Justice. Administer Justice is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable legal aid organization serving the needs of low-income and no-income individuals. They operate as a full-time professional law office that also offers other services leading to personal empowerment built on Biblical principles.
Clinics will run from 9 am - 12 noon on the first Saturday of each month at our East Aurora Campus. We are looking for volunteers to help provide and coordinate hospitality, greeting, and prayer for families that attend. We will serve coffee and baked goods and seek to create a welcoming environment for families, many of whom may also be looking for Read More…
Christmas Gift Mart Thank YOU
This year the Joliet Christmas Gift Mart was filled with miracles. The amount of toys that came in over the last two days made it possible for each child to get four toys. Here is what one parent wrote about the event: ...With the economy the way it is this was truly a blessing. ...the volunteers were extremely nice and helpful. There were so many people that offered to help pick out gifts or even to carry them. I had to tell everyone about this. My husband and I couldn't stop talking about it and [how] warm our hearts felt afterwards. signed The Gallegos We got over 300 thank you notes this year, all talking about how YOU made this happen and I can not thank you enough. You truly honored God. If you would like to see some pictures, Read More…
4 Gift Marts Spread Christmas Joy
On Saturday, December 17th, Community Christian Church hosted 4 Christmas Gift Marts around Chicagoland . . . 2 in East Aurora, 1 in Joliet, and 1 in Chicago to help low-income families purchase toys for their children and raise thousands of dollars for under-resourced schools.
Between these 4 Gift Marts, we collected almost 13,000 toys, mobilized 1,500 volunteers, partnered with over 100 different churches, businesses, and organizations, served 3,200 people and raised almost $18,000 for our partner schools.
One woman at one of our East Aurora Marts had been waiting in line for hours and a volunteer noticed that she looked like she wasn't feeling very well, so asked if she could help. The woman responded, "I think I am in labor, but I'v Read More…
