I joined Hammer & NER as the Chief Development Officer on January 2. Starting right after New Year’s Day made it feel like I was taking on a big New Year’s Resolution. The role is responsible for leading the fundraising efforts that support our work. I joined the Hammer & NER team as an...
Faith communities provide spiritual nourishment By Jennifer L. Hipple and Joe Cullen, Communication Specialists Spirituality can help people with disabilities feel a sense of belonging, purpose, and comfort and can support them during difficult times. Here we share the stories of ministries that...
Longtime community partnership holds rich tradition 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....
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...
Over time, Hammer & NER’s Community Life activities have truly created a sense of community that keeps growing stronger. These events are designed for everybody: inclusive, welcoming, and all about making sure everyone feels like they belong. People come for all kinds of reasons: to hang out...
Finding and maintaining a job brings satisfaction, purpose, and a social outlet for many. Here are a few stories of people who greatly enjoy their jobs and whose contributions and presence are appreciated by their employers. Laura B. (City of New Brighton–Eagles Nest) Laura, from our Currie...
A life in full bloom By Ted Wentink & Erin Dunn Our daughter, Jessica, started her Hammer & NER journey 12 years ago when she moved into the Lake Place apartment program. Although she was 26 years old, we were hesitant to have her leave home, but we also wanted Jessica to develop an...
Here is a story from our spring Discoveries magazine Help Hammer & NER make our communities better places. You are invited to participate in the discussions that affect you and the people you care about every day including those we support, their families, and staff. Advocacy is the action of...
Exploring what “community” looks like When we think of the word community and what it means to us, I think it’s safe to say that we would all define it a bit differently, or would we? On a cold January day, I had the pleasure of sitting down with two of the individuals we support at...
Nurturing community through the seasons of life Providing people with a sense of community often means understanding their needs and desires and walking alongside them to create a world that nurtures the essence of who they are. As people grow older, we know that for many, their worlds will become...
Meet Chris Chica & Mike Siebenaler! Chris Chica and Mike Siebenaler are in new roles at Hammer & NER. Let’s get to know them and the ways they are helping us live our mission of providing people with intellectual and other disabilities the opportunity to live life to its fullest. Tell us...
Sharing the journey of a sibling with special needs Michelle Olson is a Hammer & NER Board member. She and her husband, Steve, utilized NER’s former respite program to help care for their daughter, Tiffany (Tiff), when she was younger. Their other daughters, Chrissie and Nikki, grew up...
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