SOUTH BEND — Michiana's YMCA is offering a unique program to help the thousands of people in our area out of a job and looking for work. For four hours every Saturday during the month of June, the unemployed can stop worrying about their job search and work their minds and bodies.

Robert Overton has gotten used to the ups and downs of life, but lately it's not just in the weight room.

"It is a big change," said Overton. "I worked since I was 14 and I've never had this length of unemployment."

Overton put his blood, sweat, and tears into his job as a fork-lift driver and material handler.

"I thought maybe I'd retire from there," he said.

But it didn't happen that way. He was laid off in February.

Since then, he's faced a lot of uncertainty and finding a job has been quite the task.

Instead of being the breadwinner, Overton calls himself the bread-maker.

"Because my wife works, I do the house-husband stuff," Overton said.

The economic downturn has made quite the splash. The national unemployment rate his 9.4% in May, the highest level in more than 25 years.

Levels in several counties across Northern Indiana were down for the month of April, but still ranked toward the top in the state.

And that's caught the attention of Michiana's YMCA.

"What we're doing is opening our doors to the unemployed," said David Kollar, Membership and Marketing Director for Michiana Family YMCA.

Saturdays, during the month of June, unemployed guests and their families can lift weights, play racquetball, use the pool or shoot hoops absolutely free.

"Basically get a good workout and get their minds off the situation," Kollar said.

While the courtesy is just once per week, it offers more time for Overton to work on his mind and body and less time worrying about his job search.

"You're not thinking of the stresses of today and not having a job," Overton said.