Oct 15, 2009 5:30 pm US/Central
Someone You Should Know: Opportunity Enterprises
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Opportunity Enterprises, based in Valparaiso, Ind., is a non-profit agency that gives jobs to 1,000 people with unique challenges and abilities.
CBS
They give their work everything they've got and in return they feel indescribable pride. CBS 2's Harry Porterfield reports that the folks at Opportunity Enterprises are people you should know.
It began six years ago with a small office shredder destroying a few hundred pounds of confidential materials. Today, Secure Shred processes nearly two million pounds of paper each year.
The operation is a function of Opportunity Enterprises, based in Valparaiso, Ind. It's a non-profit agency that gives jobs to 1,000 people with unique challenges and abilities.
Gary Mitchell is the organization's CEO.
"We're involved with people who are severely impaired; everything from paraplegic to the whole gamut of individuals who need a little support to get involved, re-involved with life in the community," Mitchell said.
More than 200 customers a month use Secure Shred's services.
Jeff Qualizza has worked there for nine years. He has autism.
"Autism's kinda hard because people don't really understand me that well," Qualizza said. "This job is great because they do understand me."
It would be hard to find anyone at Secure Shred who doesn't feel that way.
"I get to work and develop my social skills a little bit, and it's also fun," said worker David Moscoe.
Each week, 23 tons of shredded paper in bales are shipped to Wisconsin where they are recycled into tissue paper.
Iraq war veteran Harold Cobb is very proud to drive a mobile shredding truck.
"I think I'm blessed. I came back from Iraq. The job came to me," Cobb said.
Gary Mitchell says the pleasure is all his.
"It's been a privilege to learn and be with these individuals because they have truly given me much more than any time that I could give back to these people," Mitchell said.
Secure Shred services more than 200 customers, including hospitals, a bank and a casino.
The next venture for Opportunity Enterprises will also be very special.
Gary Mitchell says it will involve developing a lakeside area where people who have lived in institutions can get outside and explore nature.
He says some of them have never walked barefoot on grass or worked in a garden. He wants to change that.
Click here for more information on Opportunity Enterprises.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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