It has been my greatest honor to bring music to the people at Hammer Residences throughout the years.  In Hammer’s early years, I watched kids grow into teeny boppers, and then as they grew into adults. They are so excited to see me; their faces light up with excitement and we share a love for music that makes you want to sing and dance. They request the same songs every year, so of course I play the music they want to hear. I wanted to hug them, but knew I couldn’t this year because of COVID-19 and to protect everyone’s health and safety.

Donny’s biggest fans enjoying his tunes!

I joined the Hammer family when I married Becky Koltes in 1978. That same year Liz, Becky’s sister, moved into her first Hammer home. We were all much younger back in those days, and time has flown by.

This has been a very tough year for me. I lost my wife, Becky. Being a people person and a DJ, COVID-19 has been very hard for me, too. Being back with my Hammer peeps gives me such great energy! However, I miss Becky the most, but I also miss seeing Liz and everyone at Hammer as often as I used to at events. I would prefer to have everyone dancing right up front with me, but this was the next best thing on a sunny summer day.

Seeing the smiles on the individuals’ faces that day, made me cry with joy. They just mean so much to me because they are such beautiful people, and it is phenomenal to see them so happy. We should all be more thankful.

It’s my pleasure to bring more love into this world. It touches my heart so deeply. If you can help someone, share your talents, share your time, share the joy. Do it! Liz and all her friends at Hammer are the greatest, least inhibited, and most appreciative group I play for all year. I can’t wait for my next Hammer gig!

Donny getting getting the party started!

The post A Lifetime of Smiles Through Music appeared first on Hammer.

My journey to Hammer started over 29 years ago, when I moved to Minnesota from Louisiana with the plan of getting a job at Hazelden. My background is in chemical dependency treatment, and I thought I would continue on that path in Minnesota. When I first got to Minnesota, I took a job as a DSP at Hammer “temporarily” working at one of our group homes, then named Dublin (which today is Hammer’s Ridgeview home).

Like all best laid plans, as I started doing the work, I found it was a natural fit for me and I continued to stay and work at Hammer. I knew early on that I had found my place and Hammer was the spot for me. I never really planned on staying for 29 years, but it’s been great. I especially like the culture.

Ken and former Board Member, George Daum, at Hammer’s Spring Breakfast in 2019.

The reason I do this work is I enjoy the challenge of figuring out what is behind the behaviors of individuals and figuring out why they are reacting in a certain way. It usually is a communication issue, so I try to find a solution that works for everyone. It is gratifying to see each individual’s progress and to see them gain confidence with their success.

As time went on, solid relationships began to build between the individuals, their families, and me. Because I was really invested in their progress and truly cared about them the relationships flourished as time went on.

Fast forward and the next opportunity opened at a new Hammer transitional home, that today is called Hampshire. This is where I spent the bulk of my years as a program manager. I truly enjoyed working with the individuals and families who were supported there, and through the years saw so much growth in the guys. It’s been very rewarding.

Ken and Kris, supported by Hammer at Hammer’s Hampshire home, at Hammer’s Family Day Picnic in 2019. Ken was manager at Hampshire home before becoming a Director. The men have known each other for 5 years.

There did come a point where the guys had grown and matured and that they did not need as much support. I credit their progress to three main things: consistency, honesty, and trust. This has been a great accomplishment over the years, seeing the guys not need as much support, watching the behaviors subside, and things fall into place for them. Life was good.

Then in 2016, a director position opened up at Hammer and one of my colleagues thought I would be great. She strongly encouraged me to apply. I had to do a great deal of soul searching, because it was really hard to leave the guys at Hampshire. The biggest thing that kept me from applying was leaving the guys at Hampshire, because my heart was in supporting them.

I was going back and forth on whether to apply or not. Then, my wife gave me some insight that helped me decide. She said, “Ken, you would not even be considering applying for the director job if you didn’t think the guys were ready. You are just having a hard time letting go of them. The guys will be fine.”

She knows me really well and that I would never leave a job half done. Her piece of advice made me realize that the guys would be fine if I did move on, so I applied, was offered the position, and accepted. It has been very rewarding.

Throughout my years at Hammer, I have gotten to know and worked with many wonderful families and individuals, so it would be hard to mention just one. My greatest accomplishment is making sure each person feels validated and important because for me, it will always be about the relationships.

The post It’s All About Relationships appeared first on Hammer.

My name is Ann Martinka and I have been employed by Hammer Travel, for almost ten years. My husband Bob and I have three children and our middle child, Joy, was born with Down Syndrome.

Being the only girl, Joy was lucky enough to get her own room. As she aged, it transferred from an infant and toddler’s room to a young girl’s room. It was painted a Pepto Bismol pink! 

Joy says, “I like my room. It was pink. Pink is my favorite color!” 

Because Joy is the middle child, she watched her older brother graduate and head off to college. Joy was well aware of the next typical steps in life. She approached her high school graduation and next steps with such excitement and confidence. Joy’s next step was a transition program called TASSEL. She expected the full college experience with school colors and a ‘team’ name because all she knew at this point was the Wisconsin Badgers! We opted to call it TASSEL University and had a sweatshirt made to look like a college sweatshirt.  One of the biggest parts of going to college is living in the dorm and Joy wanted and expected that experience. We got to work and redid her room to look like a typical dorm room, with a lofted bed, desk, TV, and beer fridge! She was a true college student!

Joy excitedly exclaims, “I have a TV and a desk. I can write and eat at my desk. I have a refrigerator and have juice boxes and ketchup in there. My bed is up high, and I have a couch to sit on.”

During her time at TASSEL University, Joy’s older brother moved into his own apartment and that fed into Joy’s excitement about her own apartment. She has been working on learning independent living skills such as washing clothes, light cooking, cleaning, and getting up on her own, so that someday she can live on her own. We made an appointment with Brian Kelly at Hammer to talk about what it means to live in a Hammer apartment and what Joy could look forward to when that time comes.  Brian talked with Joy about what it is like to live in a Hammer apartment and answered all of her questions, and mine!  Joy walked out of the Hammer office happy and believing that she would be moving into her own apartment very soon.

As her transition program ended, she began to look forward to moving out.  We would talk about ‘someday’ when she would live in an apartment of her own. As we all know ‘someday’ can mean a long time. In order to help her progress to that next step in life, we bought her a special gift for Christmas. 

Enter the doorbell. A doorbell was installed on the doorframe of her dorm room and it instantly became Joy’s apartment. She changed the sign on her door and informed all of us that we need to ring the doorbell if we want to talk with her.  

Joy states, “I can do everything in my room like exercise, make YouTube videos, eat, talk on FaceTime, whatever I want. I can change the music on my doorbell. Mom and Dad ring the doorbell if they want to talk to me”. 

Another step to independent living – check!

The next step is an actual apartment, Joy is more than ready. Now it is time for me to get ready!

The post Transitioning with Joy appeared first on Hammer.

NER and Hammer both share the same deeply held values that every person deserves a safe and healthy place to live and provide person-centered support helping each person experience life to its fullest. The synergies between the two organizations will also help better the lives of all individuals we serve.

“This opportunity is a positive one for both organizations,” said John Estrem, CEO of Hammer. “We have a combined 150 years of history supporting individuals with developmental disabilities. Going forward, we will be able to work together, learn from each other, and continue to deliver our values-driven services together.”

Coming together will also allow Hammer and NER to share technology and resources to continue to improve the support we provide individuals and to our staff. Jointly, we will be able to build relationships with more counties and legislators to strengthen our advocacy focus for disability services and allow us to become a stronger advocate for the individuals we serve and make an impact on the industry.

This is a positive opportunity for both organizations as each are steadfast in their commitment to continue their values-driven services. After January 1, 2021, NER will be a wholly owned subsidiary of Hammer and but for the immediate future will continue its own independent operations and personnel.

To learn more about Hammer Residences click here

To learn more about Northeast Residence click here

The post Better Together! Hammer Residences Acquires Northeast Residence as of January 1, 2021 appeared first on Hammer.

Just over 3 years ago, I transitioned from the program side of Hammer into the Care Coordination Department which is located within the Customized Support Services, or what we like to call Hammer West. For those of you who may not know, Hammer West is the home of both our Care Coordination and Case Management departments. Our Care Coordinators and Case Managers are often out in the community meeting with the individuals that we support on a weekly basis, at minimum, and often even more frequently. 

Regan (3rd from left) and Hammer West staff after assembling the Car Care Kits

As I got further into the job, I was taken aback by the number of homeless individuals I would drive past on my way to and from visits with members. There is a certain helplessness that I would feel as I wanted to do something to help, but wasn’t sure what. Shortly after this, I started keeping Car Care Kits in my car. I would fill up a gallon Ziplock with essential personal items such as toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, chapstick, gloves, etc. and be able to give them out at intersections or stoplights to folks who were homeless. 

On and off for 6 months, I noticed the same man who would stand on an intersection that I would take on my way into the office each morning. We’d make eye contact and I’d stop and give a bag, or a sandwich from my lunch and sometimes cash if I had it. One morning, I stopped to roll down my window and introduced myself and shared that I would love to know his name. He introduced himself and as he waved, I noticed his coat was ripped. A week later, I saw him out again and handed him a coat that I had rounded up that was about his size. He had one sleeve on before I could even get the whole thing out the window! 

Another week or so passed when I saw him again, rolled down my window and asked, “what size shoes do you wear?” He shouted back his size and we agreed to meet in the same spot two days later. I swung by two days later and there he was, big smile and two fingers up in a peace sign. For the next few months, we’d make eye contact and if I didn’t have anything to give, I would still get that smile and peace sign. 

Recently, Hammer West and the Central Office were able to round up over 500 individual items to put towards Car Care Kits. Just last week Hammer West was able to put together 60 bags for our Case Managers and Care Coordinators to keep in their cars to hand out to folks that we may see on our drives out to our members and individuals! 

Seeing the two departments come together for something as simple as Car Kits was very encouraging and rewarding for me. While not everyone will run into the same people, or get a smile and a peace sign, the opportunity to help out in the most basic ways is so meaningful. In that 1-minute interaction, we can look another person in the eye, not knowing their story or what they’ve been through and be able to say “I see you. You matter.”

Thank you to all who helped with donations and packing the bags. Because of you, we are able to catch a glimpse of the beauty that can exist within humanity.

The post I See You appeared first on Hammer.