Apprentice painters with Northwest Indiana Painters Union 460 recently spent three weeks painting the interior and exterior of the main building at Lakeside Opportunities on Lake Eliza, a 13,000-square-foot program center set to open on July 21.

The apprentice painters worked under the supervision of David Harris, instructor/coordinator for the Joint Apprenticeship and Training program.

"Having this experience (at Lakeside) gives my apprentice painters the hands-on activity that is lacking in the classroom setting," Harris said. "Volunteer opportunities like this one give the guys a chance to get real experience."

The experience is one that second-year commercial decorating painter Nick Schlax said he appreciated.

"It's great to do charity work and to help out an organization like OE," he said. "This is a good job, and I appreciate the extra interior painting experience."

Having the help of the apprentice painters saved Opportunity Enterprises from the additional expense of hiring painters for the job. The money saved now can be routed to other building and land improvements, said Ellen DeMartinis, vice president/chief operating officer for Opportunity Enterprises.

Opportunity Enterprises is a nonprofit organization that promotes self-sufficiency and life choices for challenged individuals.

For information about volunteering or contributing to Opportunity Enterprises, visit www.oppent.org.

-- For The Times