Electricians union provides volunteer work for Shirley Heinze Land Trust

VALPARAISO | Members of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 531 in LaPorte spent a Saturday changing out switches and receptacles at Shirley Heinze Land Trust’s new headquarters building. The trust purchased the former Meadowbrook Girl Scout Camp near Valparaiso and is preparing the facility for occupancy.

Eight union members answered the call for this community involvement project. “Our local has about 500 members in five counties,” said organizer Eric Jackson. “We do lots of projects like this, including Habitat for Humanity houses and the New Prairie School Corporation Activity Center.”

IBEW board member Bruce Britton first alerted the union to this opportunity. “Heinze Trust Executive Director Kris Krouse and I are both active with the Northwest Indiana Paddling Association,” he said. “That’s how I learned about this project. It seemed like just the type of thing we’d want to support.”

“Shirley Heinze Land Trust has been overwhelmed by the amount of community support we’ve had as we get ready to move into our new building,” Krouse said. “The IBEW guys have done a great job. We’re very grateful for their volunteer service.”