Tom and Alex

Tom Venable is one of those people always looking for ways to give back to the community. It’s one way the high-energy former corporate leader and now passionate entrepreneur and owner of newly launched Sales Macgyver, creates work/life balance for himself. When Tom heard about the many individuals with intellectual and other disabilities supported at Hammer & NER looking for a one-on-one volunteer, someone to be a friend to them and take them out into the community, his ears perked up. He soon signed up for the organization’s “Make a Friend, Be a Friend” program—and gained a lifelong friend in Alex, who has been supported by Hammer & NER for 17 years.

Hammer & NER recently named Tom Venable as one of the recipients of this year’s Community Partner Award. The award recognizes those who have made a positive impact on the lives of the people we serve, or whose efforts have greatly supported our mission to provide people with intellectual and other disabilities the opportunity to live life to its fullest.

For the last eight years, Tom and Alex have built a strong bond, sharing countless adventures out and about in the community and enjoying various activities like attending JJ Hill Days in Wayzata, going bowling, taking in a movie, going on boat rides, or grabbing lunch at Snuffy’s Malt Shop or Punch Pizza. Their bond is built on trust, laughter, and genuine connection. Tom says he can be having a bad day, but when he walks through the door to visit Alex and sees the huge smile on his face, it turns his day right around. “Alex is such a wonderful part of my life,” Tom says. “He’s like the little brother I never had.”

Besides being a friend to Alex, Tom volunteers at our annual Reach for Ralph fundraising event, has called bingo, made meals for our homes in need, and volunteered at our Golf Open and Trunk or Treat events. He has donated more than 300 hours of his time to Hammer & NER and the people we serve.

Alex helped present Tom with a Community Partner award.

We are proud to celebrate Tom Venable for the friendship he has built with Alex and for his dedicated support of our mission. If you would like to volunteer with the Make a Friend, Be a Friend program, please contact our Director of Volunteer Resources, Cathy Thoma, at cthoma@hammer.org. 

Editor’s Note: We are saddened to share that Alex passed away July 18. Our condolences are with his family, friends, and the staff at our Carlson home where Alex resided for many years, along with his good friend, Tom Venable. To see Alex’s obituary please visit Alexander Luther Obituary | Minnesota Star Tribune

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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 Attorney General in the Human Services Division and worked with the licensing of Intermediate Care Facility (ICF) homes. At the time, Hammer Residences temporarily operated five ICF group homes, which the state had taken into receivership.

Fast forward to the fall of 2023, the Minneapolis Area Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) as part of its Faith Practices and Neighboring Practices program encouraged congregations to reach out to their neighboring communities. Upon visiting the Hammer & NER website, Kim discovered that one of our homes was near her church. She shared this with fellow parishioners and learned that one of them had a brother, Ben, who lived at our 1st Avenue home. Kim reached out to Hammer & NER to inquire about volunteering opportunities and was connected with Brittney Severson, the Program Manager at 1st Avenue at that time. Hammer & NER was also chosen as Christ Memorial Lutheran’s cause of the month for October 2023 and John Estrem was invited to speak to the congregation. We gratefully received an offering from the church.

When Christmas 2023 arrived, Kim and fellow church members organized a Christmas Caroling party at the house, complete with pizza, an electric piano for playing carols, and gifts! The staff at 1st Avenue took everyone to the Children’s Christmas Service at the church. In February, the Sunday school and childcare center children made Valentine’s Day cards for the house which were delivered with treats. For Easter, the church hosted a party for 1st Avenue, including sub sandwiches, Easter baskets, and an Easter egg hunt at the church. Out of the 40 plastic eggs filled with treats and coins, only 39 were found—one egg remains hidden!

Kim and the guys at the church’s Alternative Gift Market

Last October found the 1st Avenue individuals and staff participating in Trunk or Treat at the church, with games and activities for the church and childcare families. On Thanksgiving Eve, everyone was invited to the church service and the pie social that followed. Christmas saw the church host the Alternative Gift Market, attended by the individuals at 1st Avenue who enjoyed getting their photo taken at the Hammer & NER table with Kim. Once again, we received a donation from the church. Later in December, another pizza and caroling party was held at the 1st Avenue home. The church continues to nurture its relationship with the 1st Avenue community.

In addition to their support for 1st Avenue, Kim, her husband, Craig, and friends have volunteered with Hammer & NER in various capacities, including the Cooks in the Kitchen program, Disability Services Day at the Capitol, our annual Luau, the Baker Park Picnic, and the annual Spring Breakfast. And let’s not forget the cookies they have made for our Community Life parties!

Thank you, Kim, for connecting us with Christ Memorial Lutheran Church. And a heartfelt thank you to the congregation for your unwavering support of Hammer & NER’s mission and to those we support. We are so grateful to have you as part of our community!

(In the photo above: Kim and the 1st Avenue guys at the annual Hammer & NER Luau)

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Through volunteer connections with her employer, Martha found a listing for a walking buddy at Hammer Residences. “I thought I could do that, and it would fit really well into my life,” Martha recalls. “The first person I talked to was Joe Esposito. He and I talked about what the volunteer activity would be.” Martha was paired with Rick, who was supported at the Arkansas home at the time. She started to walk with Rick every Wednesday. Then she began treating Rick to soda pop, letting him walk her dog, and eventually joining him for bowling nights.

The condition Rick lived with caused him to be non-verbal. Although they couldn’t converse verbally, Martha says the experience was good for both of them. “Rick was able to get out for a walk and for me it was about being present with someone,” she says. Martha was impacted by Rick’s personality and remembers bowling nights being particularly fun. “Rick was a lovely gentleman, and I had the opportunity to be with him a really long time.”

Martha and Linda, who is supported at County Road F, visited Nashville

Martha also began to give charitably to Hammer. “When I started volunteering with Hammer, giving was a logical extension for me. This is an organization I have chosen to be a part of. Therefore, I want to financially support it as well,” Martha says. She and her husband, Ed, feel it is important to utilize charitable gifts to further fuel the mission of Hammer & NER. “I would like (Hammer & NER) to be able to serve anyone who comes to them asking for service. That sounds simple, but it’s not. You need lots of staff, different types of residences, and different types of services,” Martha says.

Martha’s service led to her being presented with the Community Partner Award in 2019. Soon after, Martha realized another way to get involved: Hammer Travel. Since 2019, she has volunteered on eight trips including Minnesota Twins training camp, Hawaii, and Disney World. “There is just so much joy and excitement when people are traveling,” she says. “It’s fun to see it through the eyes of someone else.”

Martha and TJ, who is supported at Lakeside, on a Hammer Travel trip to Hawaii

Even though Rick transferred to another organization several years ago, Martha continues to be involved as a volunteer and as a donor. She recently returned from a Hammer Travel trip to Florida for Disney’s “Halloween Magic.”

Martha’s volunteerism and generosity is an example of what empowers the 380 individuals served by Hammer & NER to live life to the fullest. Thank you, Martha!

Would you like to volunteer with Hammer & NER? Check out Volunteer Opportunities in Minneapolis | Individual & Group Opportunities for more information.

David Duxbury is a Major Gifts Officer with Hammer & NER’s Development department.

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Andy is a great help in the kitchen

We would like to shine a light on a certain someone who has been helping out with various groups who volunteer with our weekly Cooks in the Kitchen program on the East side. His name is Andy, and he is one of the many fabulous folks that we support here at Hammer & NER.

Andy attends our day program five days a week in White Bear Lake. Living in one of our homes, Andy participates in many activities offered in the evenings and on weekends with Hammer & NER. When he is not out and about enjoying a local apple orchard, a movie at the theatre, or checking out the zoo, you will find Andy poking his nose in the kitchen at our White Bear Lake office. He not only enjoys the yummy smells but is always wanting to lend a helping hand. The Wednesday morning Cooks in the Kitchen volunteer program is in the basement where our day program is also located.

Cooks in the Kitchen is a program that brings people together to prepare meals for some of our homes. For Andy, it’s not just about the cooking—it’s about enjoying those meals that are often sent home with him to enjoy with his housemates. When asked what his favorite meal is, he just smiled and said, “I love them all.” Andy has a goal to learn more about cooking and baking, which he is really excited about.

Joni Purrington, a past NER Board member, shares that, “Andy gets right in and adds value and gets things done. He is truly helpful.” I couldn’t agree more. I love being greeted by Andy and his smile on Wednesday mornings. He always wants to help me set things up for our awesome volunteers.

Kelly Rashaw volunteers each month with a team from Scentsy and has worked with Andy a few times. They like to have music playing while they cook and have found that Andy loves the oldies. “He really wants to help, and he holds himself to perfection,” she says.

We are proud to have Andy as part of our Hammer & NER family.  We look forward to seeing Andy continue to thrive, both in the kitchen and beyond. He reminds us all that it’s not just about the tasks we complete, but the heart we put into them. And in that regard, Andy is truly a chef of kindness.

Andy with Cooks in the Kitchen volunteers from The Lacek Group

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Meet Bethany Collins, one of our Hammer & NER volunteers, who has grown a strong friendship with Lynn, who is supported at our Zealand apartments.

By Bethany Collins
Seventeen years ago, I set out on a journey that would change my life. I had just adopted a playful Australian Shepherd puppy, Chase, and I knew I wanted to get involved in animal therapy with him. After searching online, I found Hammer & NER. I was quickly drawn to the idea of pairing my new pup with someone who could benefit from his loving nature. Little did I know how profound this decision would be.

Bethany and Rex with Lynn

After completing the volunteer application, I was paired with Lynn. At first, our connection revolved around weekly Friday walks with Chase. Lynn took to Chase right away—her eyes would light up when she saw him, and she would smile and laugh at his silly antics. Although she was a bit shy with me at first, over time, something beautiful began to unfold. Our walks became the foundation of a friendship that has lasted nearly two decades.

Chase lived a long, wonderful life, almost 17 years. After he passed, I adopted Max, another Aussie, but sadly, we lost him to cancer at the age of seven. Now, we have Rex, a two-and-a-half-year-old ball of energy who came into our lives at just eight weeks old. Every memory I have of Lynn and these dogs is special. I know for certain they have brought her so much joy. She always laughs and says, “They kissed me! They really like me!” It’s those moments of pure happiness that mean the most.

The adorable Rex

As our friendship grew, so did our time together. Lynn now comes to my house for Sunday dinners, where she gets plenty of dog licks and love. Over meals, we talk about her week—living at Zealand, working at Staybridge, and her Monday bowling sessions. My husband, Larry, has also formed a bond with her, as have our neighbors and their dogs. Spending time with Lynn reminds me to stay grateful. I know our time together is the highlight of her week, and it warms my heart to think of the small but meaningful impact we’ve had on each other’s lives.

It’s a privilege to volunteer with Hammer & NER, where the simple joys of shared meals, laughter, and the love of a dog can brighten someone’s day. Volunteering not only makes a difference in Lynn’s life but enriches mine as well. To bring joy and friendship to someone living with disabilities is an incredibly rewarding experience, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

If you’re interested in learning more about volunteering at Hammer & NER, please visit hammer.org/volunteer

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