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Hammer > Articles by: Cathy Thoma
A Blossoming Partnership

by Cathy Thoma | Jun 12, 2025 | Blog, Discoveries, Hammer & NER, volunteer

A Blossoming Partnership

Christ Memorial Lutheran Church and Hammer & NER Our official partnership with Christ Memorial Lutheran Church in Plymouth may have started in 2023, but its roots trace back to the 1990s when Kim Mesun first heard of Hammer Residences. At the time, Kim was serving as a Minnesota Assistant...

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The Growing Friendship of Brooke & Kris

by Cathy Thoma | Aug 15, 2024 | Blog, Discoveries, Hammer & NER, make a friend, nonprofit, volunteer

The Growing Friendship of Brooke & Kris

Volunteering Brings About Gifts of Many Kinds Ever since Brooke Vidlund was a little girl, she has had friends and classmates who had special needs. Once she was out of college, she wanted to continue to be involved with those with developmental disabilities. Brooke first became aware of Hammer...

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An Enriching Community Partnership

by Cathy Thoma | Dec 20, 2023 | 100 Year Anniversary, Blog, nonprofit, volunteer

An Enriching Community Partnership

Our Legacies magazine is a special anniversary publication, celebrating our history, the people we have supported, and those who have made our mission possible all these years. Here is one of our stories: Hammer & NER has been so fortunate to have had a variety of Community Partners over the...

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Andrew &  Josh – Fast Friends

by Cathy Thoma | Nov 21, 2023 | 100 Year Anniversary, Blog, Legacies, volunteer

Andrew & Josh – Fast Friends

In honor of Hammer’s 100th anniversary and NER’s 50th anniversary, we have published Legacies, a special anniversary magazine, celebrating our history, the people we have supported, and those who have made our mission possible all these years. Here is one of the featured stories: Andrew Pollock...

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Medica – Hammer Community Partner Award Recipients

by Cathy Thoma | Apr 24, 2020 | Community Partner Awards, volunteer

Medica – Hammer Community Partner Award Recipients

By Cathy Thoma, Director of Volunteer Resources Congratulations to Hammer’s Community Partner Award Recipient – Medica! Thank you to the Medica employees who have and continue to volunteer their time engaging with the individuals we support. Your dedication and commitment has truly enriched so...

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Andy Bleck & Sarah Montgomery – Hammer Community Partner Award Recipients

by Cathy Thoma | Apr 23, 2020 | Community Partner Awards, volunteer

Andy Bleck & Sarah Montgomery – Hammer Community Partner Award Recipients

By Cathy Thoma, Director of Volunteer Resources Andy and Sarah are the amazing coaches for Hammer’s Floor Hockey League. As Katie Pease, Hammer’s Community Life Coordinator says, “They have grown the Hammer Floor Hockey program into what it is today and are 100% dedicated to every part of the...

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The Sauer Family – Hammer Community Partner Award Recipients

by Cathy Thoma | Apr 22, 2020 | Community Partner Awards, volunteer

The Sauer Family – Hammer Community Partner Award Recipients

By Cathy Thoma, Director of Volunteer Resources The Sauer Family has been volunteering with the individuals at our Unity home since 2013. Since then, John, Linda and Abby have accrued over 700 hours of service! #LocalLight It all began when Abby took a service learning class at Benilde-St....

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Cindi Laurent – Hammer Community Partner Award Recipient

by Cathy Thoma | Apr 21, 2020 | Community Partner Awards, volunteer

Cindi Laurent – Hammer Community Partner Award Recipient

By Cathy Thoma, Director of Volunteer Resources Cindi Laurent is one of our Hammer Community Partner Award recipients and a volunteer extraordinaire. Cindi has been volunteering with Hammer since 2015 and has accrued over 1,000 hours of service! Cindi is Carol’s one on one volunteer. They have...

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Volunteer Appreciation Week: Abby Oldham

by Cathy Thoma | Apr 20, 2020 | Community Partner Awards, volunteer

Volunteer Appreciation Week: Abby Oldham

By Cathy Thoma, Director of Volunteer Resources It’s Volunteer Appreciation Week, and we would like to introduce you to Hammer’s Community Partner Youth Award recipient, Abby Oldham. Abby Oldham is a senior at Wayzata High School, and a one on one volunteer with Gina at Emery. When Abby...

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