Mary Anne with George at their Hale home 

Mary Anne came to NER in 1997 from Pine City where she lived with her mom. Mary Anne was raised on a farm and staff quickly learned that meant waking up early. If you were the overnight staff, you would often wake up with the sense of someone watching over you. Yes, this was Mary Anne who would wait patiently until 6 a.m. to wake you up. Who knows how long she waited in her room. Mary Anne really knows how to make early mornings not so painful. She always has a smile, positive attitude, and something nice to say about you.

Mary Anne loves visitors and makes them feel welcome by offering a pop to everyone who comes to her house. She also loves staying busy in the community by going shopping, out to eat, and on nature walks. You would be amazed by how many birds she can identify. I often wondered if she was just saying any type of bird to see if I would know if she was correct or not.

At home Mary Anne likes to watch TV and the birds outside her window along with doing crafts and Etch-a-Sketch. I have never seen someone be able to write their name on an Etch-a-Sketch as well as Mary Anne. It is rather impressive if she is willing to show you. However, if she sees you trying to look, she will often shake it to erase the artwork.

Mary Anne is a great friend and has taught me to always be positive. If you ever need an uplift, go visit Mary Anne—you will get a smile, a pop, and probably a “You’re so beautiful” or “You’re nice.”

Mary Anne is pictured above with Michelle Hartmann, the Program Manager at her Hale home, at the 2023 Luau.

The post The Marvelous Mary Anne appeared first on Hammer.

Hollie and Kelly got to know Northeast Residence while they used respite services. When Northeast Residence decided to open their first waivered site, Hollie and Kelly’s parents jumped at the chance. As this was a new program for NER, it took a little longer than expected to get the details settled. In September 1994, Hollie and Kelly moved into the Rollingview home on the same day. They have been together ever since!

Hollie loves to visit the pigs at the State Fair

Kelly enjoying a refreshment at the State Fair

Hollie is the fashionista of the house- she’s usually the best dressed of everyone (including the staff) and accessorizes with an impressive array of necklaces, earrings, and sunglasses. She also loves listening to music—one of her favorite ways to bond with new staff—and watching YouTube videos. Just before the pandemic, her favorite videos were of new piglets and their mothers. That August, she and Kelly went with staff to the State Fair and not only got to see some piglets and mothers, but got to pet some as well! The piglet’s owners loved her enthusiasm and answered all her questions.

Kelly’s mom was a dance instructor and Kelly spent a lot of time at the dance studio growing up. She still has a number of videos of recitals that she loves to watch. If you watch carefully, you can see Kelly in some of them! They started out as VHS tapes but over the years her family has helped convert them to DVDs so that Kelly can watch them on “modern” players. If she’s not watching dance videos, her favorite movies are ones with catchy tunes, whether it’s musicals or Disney movies. When she’s at home, she can often be found watching a movie on her portable DVD player while she puts together a puzzle. Staff will always make sure that the picture is available to Kelly, however she usually puts them together by the shape of the piece versus the colors of the picture. Kelly is very soft spoken, but her sense of humor often has staff sharing the latest zinger, whether it’s asking out of the blue if they have paid their mortgage or renaming the staff. One of the staff at least five names, according to Kelly, including Nora, Laura, Michelle, Dr. Frank, and Teacher (her actual name is Emily).

Over the years, Hollie and Kelly have often shared favorite activities, such as going to the State Fair. In addition to stopping to see Hollie’s piglets, they must swing through the horse barn (Kelly’s favorite), find a Pronto Pup for Hollie, and visit the one stand that sells Pepsi for Kelly! While they aren’t fans of the crowds or noise, they look forward to it each year!

In photo above, Hollie and Kelly are with Christine, one of their support staff.

The post The Friendship of Hollie & Kelly appeared first on Hammer.

There are many organizations and individuals who have supported Northeast Residence over the years by generously giving of their time, talents, and financial gifts. There were groups like the Lions Club, American Legion, VFW, and Rotary Club whose incredible financial and material support was vital when we first opened NER in a former convent in White Bear Lake in 1973. St. Mary’s Church provided the space, rent-free for the first three months and the ladies of St. Mary’s hosted a “shower” to collect items for furnishing the rooms. High school students measured the rooms for paint, carpeting, and curtains, and local business and civic organizations, neighborhood groups, and individuals provided materials and labor. The Lions Club donated NER’s first van. Other community churches and organizations gave to the new home as well. By the time they were finished, all the rooms had been completely furnished. Best of all, the new organization didn’t spend a dime! Truly amazing.

As the need to expand our services grew, we began purchasing homes in residential settings in the 1990s for our first group homes. We also added extended day programs and a respite program. The community generously contributed to our fundraising efforts, including corporations, foundations, civic organizations, and individuals. Over the last several years, groups such as the Rotary Club helped with smaller projects in some of the White Bear Lake homes; the Eagles Club spruced up a few yards; and Donatelli’s has been a long-time friend helping select the Ken and Marion Owens Scholarship recipients each year. (The scholarships are awarded to NER employees to further their education.)

For several years, the Knights of Columbus sponsored a Tootsie Roll Drive. This was a fun partnership that the people we support could participate in. It took place the last weekend of April. The Knights of Columbus would set up tables outside of Cub, Kowalski’s, or Sam’s Club and provided the Tootsie Rolls. We provided the people. We earned about $12,000 in three days. We stopped doing this during COVID-19.

These are just a few of the local groups who have helped NER along the way. We are forever grateful for all the love and support our local communities have shown us over the last 50 years. Each of you is an integral part of helping those we support live life to the fullest.

Lin Curran is Chief of Operations. She joined Northeast Residence in 1987 doing direct support. 

The post We Love Our Community appeared first on Hammer.

I began my NER career when we were in the old St. Mary’s convent, in White Bear Lake. When the convent was sold, we moved to what we called House 1 and I stayed for a while before I left to work with others who had disabilities, including traumatic brain injuries. I then came back to NER, and I have been here for 34 years now. I’m currently at the 36th Street home. We have four ladies we support here. Joyce has been here the entire time I have. She has many interests and is known for her vivid personality. She used to love saving pop tops that she would then bring to McDonald’s in exchange for vouchers to get books at Goodwill. She and I would pick out books and I would read to her. Joyce and another one of the ladies and I would go to Saints North to go roller skating. I remember Joyce laughing so hard when she fell, which didn’t happen very often because she skated around hugging the wall. Joyce loves baseball (Minnesota Twins!), the Minnesota Gophers, and the Minnesota Vikings. Joyce used to play t-ball, but as she has grown older, she has lost interest in playing.

Joyce celebrating 45 years at MSS

I have enjoyed spending many hours with Joyce doing puzzles, gardening in the backyard, going on walks, and hearing about the fun she had at the Twins game. She has a very dry wit. Her favorite thing to say is, “What do you want me to do, stand on my head like a monkey?” Joyce has always enjoyed going to NER’s annual Luau. She dances, and dances, and sings. When it comes to the holidays, since Joyce doesn’t have any family alive anymore, I bring her to my house. Joyce is just like a family member to me.

Joyce recently celebrated 45 years of employment with MSS. What an incredible milestone. Joyce has also done a lot of traveling and loves studying and reading about other countries. As I write this, Joyce is just getting home from a trip to Las Vegas with Hammer Travel. I can’t wait to talk with her about her adventure. I really enjoy seeing the people we support so happy.

The post The Colorful Facets of a Gal Named Joyce appeared first on Hammer.

On my first day on the job, I got punched in the face.

I quickly learned that “behaviors” are actions that communicate. I told my sister, who I was working with, that I was done and that it wasn’t worth the $6.75 an hour. However, 28 years later, here I am and loving what we are doing for the people we support.

Sondra Hampton

As a DSP, I never thought the little things I did each day would make such an impact on other people’s lives. The routine and stability that we provide is so important, it creates trust and builds relationships. I remember one morning when I was working at the Hale house, Denise called me “Fred” and I said, “Why am I Fred?” Her immediate response was because she was Barnie, and we were best friends.

I really enjoyed working in the homes with the people we support. In 2005, my son, Corey, had his first grand mal seizure and at 22 years old he continues to have them. If it wasn’t for the parents of the people we support that I’ve gotten to know over the years, I don’t believe I would have known how to advocate for him and without my experiences as a DSP I don’t know how my family would have survived the daily challenges that someone with special needs brings to the home. Living the daily struggles makes me so appreciative that there are places like Hammer & NER for the people we support and their families.

As DSPs we often refer to ourselves as coaches or teachers. I have learned so many great values from people that I have worked with over the years that I think I was often the student, and they were the teachers. The thing I have learned the most is the importance of dignity. Dignity goes so far; it is simple and creates lifelong relationships.

Sondra Hampton is Director of Licensing and Quality Assurance and previously served as the Operations Development Manager for Northeast Residence. Sondra joined the organization in 1995 as a Direct Support Professional. Sondra is pictured in the photo above with her son, Corey, and his girlfriend, Kelana, at Hammer & NER’s annual Luau. 

If you would like to receive a copy of Legacies and/or be added to our Discoveries distribution list, please email barbara.brandt@hammer.org. 

The post A Rough Start Leads to Rewarding Career appeared first on Hammer.