(starts with natural sound)
Opportunity Enterprises broke ground on their Lakeside Respite Center, a new $6.7 million facility beside Lake Eliza in Valparaiso. The center which is situated on a 158-acre wooded site will feature 21 beds for overnight stays, a recreation room, a relaxation room, sensory room and an extremely large and versatile kitchen which will serve as a spot to gather, take cooking lessons and of course entertain. Other amenities include a fully accessible treehouse built in partnership with Nelson Treehouse of the popular cable television show Treehouse Masters.
On Thursday, June 15, 2023 Lakeshore Public Media staff were led a guided tour of the site by Jane Kobak, Donor Relations Manager with Opportunity Enterprises. Noting recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showing that 1 in 36 or 2.8% of children have autism, Jane shared the importance of the new facility that will fill an important need offering exceptional care and programming for so many families in the Region.
Opportunity Enterprises is planning a grand ribbon-cutting ceremony August 26, 2023 that will include dignitaries from across the Hoosier state. The new Lakeside Respite Center is slated to open this fall. Opportunity Enterprises provides a wide assortment of social and daily living services to individuals with disabilities and their families. The new facility is specifically intended to provide more options for caregivers to have a break.
For 55 years, Opportunity Enterprises has worked to maximize self-sufficiency and enrich the quality of life for individuals with disabilities. OE is in the business of amazing people, serving more than 1,000 people with disabilities in Northwest Indiana with over 350 staff and hundreds of volunteers. To learn more about OE or to support the organization by volunteering or making a gift, call (219) 464-9621, or visit oppent.org.
