Longtime community partnership holds rich tradition

Lauren and Dawn, from our Gardner home, at the Lions’ waffle breakfast. Behind them are Lions Club members joined by Isaiah Allen (at right), Hammer & NER’s Chief Development Officer.

If you are fortunate enough to have a friend you have known for 30, 40, 50 years or more, you know what a special gift you have. You have weathered challenges and changes together, celebrated one another’s successes, and learned from each other. Such is the case for our long-time partnership with the folks of the Lions Club of Wayzata.

We honestly don’t know when the relationship started, but both organizations have been an integral part of Wayzata for over 70 years. When you have mission-minded organizations in the same small, but growing community, they are bound to connect. The mission of the international Lions Club is to improve health and wellbeing, strengthen communities, and support those in need through humanitarian service and grants that impact lives. Our shared values have led to a long and valued relationship.

“Being a part of a community like the Lions of Wayzata and helping local organizations like Hammer & NER is good for the soul,” says Tim Anderson, President of the Lions Club of Wayzata.

Since 1986, this humble group of community members has donated annually to Hammer & NER for a total of $58,000. Each year, on the last Saturday in February, the Lions organize a waffle breakfast fundraiser, open to the community, at St. Bart’s Catholic Church in Wayzata. They invite the people we support to attend as their guests. It has become a favorite event for many! Some of the proceeds benefit Hammer & NER. The community can also support the mission of the Lions Club by purchasing pull tabs at the Wayzata Muni.

Thank you to the Lions Club of Wayzata for everything you do for the people we support and our larger community. We look forward to many more years together!