By Cate Saracen Peters, Director of Training and Education It’s no coincidence that Hammer’s leadership has always supported providing our family members with an avenue to expand their knowledge and network of connections related to their loved ones. You see, it is deep in our roots as an...
By Kelly Bosch, Program Manager New York City. This had always been Karen’s dream, always. And, Karen’s plans for this dream were not small. They included all the fun touristy things do to, but at the top of the list was auditioning for the historic Apollo Theater. For ten years, Karen has been...
By Kris Miller, Self-Advocate My name is Kris. I have been supported by Hammer Residences for about 25 years. I would like to share some of my thoughts and experiences about bullying and why I hope everyone will stop using the R-word. I want you to know that no one should use the R-word. If you do...
By Lindsay Grome, Hammer Volunteer & Account Supervisor at Weber Shandwick Giving back. It’s one of those things we all hear we should be doing, and deep down many of us truly want to do. However, it can be hard to choose a cause. You have to ask yourself: 1) What do I care about? 2) What do I...
By Patience Zelee, Assistant Program Manager My name is Patience Zelee. I am a single parent of a six year old, and I have worked full-time as an Assistant Program Manager/Direct Support Professional (DSP) at Hammer Residences for seven years. I came to the U.S. from Liberia, West Africa, in 1998....
By Gerick Engle, Video Producer at EideCom I was first introduced to Hammer Residences in early 2014. At that time, I had been working part-time for EideCom assisting on video shoots and doing some filming. So, I was thrilled when I was offered me a full-time position as a Video Producer. The...
By Devin Harrington, Communication Specialist This past December, at the Department of Education, the Olmstead Implementation Office (OIO) held its bimonthly meeting. Subcabinet members and Dr. Darlene Zangara, Executive Director of the OIO, presented updates, the highlights of the bimonthly...
By Sue Oreck, Hammer family member My name is Sue Oreck, and I am the sister of Jeffrey Orenstein who lives at the McGlinch house in Plymouth. Whenever I go over to Jeff’s house, I see the wonderful staff that cares for the six individuals who call McGlinch home. I also see the amount of...
By Wendy Paulson, Human Resource Specialist Have you ever been told “you must be special” when you tell someone where you work? They say that because not everyone can work in human services. What is it that inspires us to choose a helping profession or nonprofit work – even if that means a modest...
Bill Bieber and his family have been generous Hammer family members since 1990. With compassion for those we serve and insight about family’s needs, Bill and his family established the Quality of Life Fund in 1993 as a financial resource for the men, women and children with developmental...
By Regan McGowan, Program Manager When I went to college, I started and ended with the same question – what do I want to do after school? I earned a degree in business, yet I hadn’t come up with an answer. Hammer has always been a part of my life. My mom has worked for this organization for over...
By Kim Gharrity, 10-Year Volunteer If a picture really is worth a thousand words, then Michael Moschogianis has gifted Hammer volumes-worth of text this past year with his wonderful photography. Retired from having his own portrait studio, Michael was looking for a way to make a creative...
By Sue Gregor, Past Hammer Board Member and Current Volunteer Sarah Casey, who lives at Sumac, is an awesome person. She is an upbeat, thoughtful and hardworking woman who always has a smile on her face. She also happens to be a very talented artist. I first got to know Sarah several years ago...
By Hammer Residences Employees and Individuals Served Thank you from the entire Hammer Family! Your gifts of time, talent and treasure help provide the right support at the right time for the individuals we serve. You make all the difference in enabling full and meaningful lives. Your generosity...
By Jan Hopper, Program Manager Every night, before I go to sleep, I count my blessings. I think there might be a song in there somewhere? Generally, the list includes my good health, good friends and working with people who make me laugh out loud every day. This simple, routine act truly helps me...
By Ashley Baggentoss, Assistant Program Manager I’ve only been at Hammer a little over 4 months. But, I’ve already had the opportunity to support the ladies of Sumac through many changes including: a move to a brand new house, welcoming a new housemate, and the introductions of new staff. One of...
By Ellen Timmerman-Borer, Chief Development Officer All good men and women must take responsibility to create legacies that will take the next generation to a level we could only imagine. ~ Jim Rohn Earlier this fall, Hammer hosted a Legacy Writing workshop that has compelled me to reflect on the...
By Terriann Matejcek, Director of Advocacy and Volunteer Resources On your TV, computer or smartphone, you may come across images of malnourished puppies, impoverished children who should be in school, someone with a disability being bullied or any number of other social injustices. What is your...
By Sean Henderson, Person-Centered Technology Manager The first time I saw an iPhone was at a concert sometime in 2007. The owner lifted the phone to take a picture, turned it horizontally, and, like magic, the screen rotated! I was completely awestruck! I started pondering why a person would need...
By former Hammer DSP Elspeth Lucas When I was growing up, I spent a fair amount of time in the kitchen- climbing the doorjambs, looking for the cookie jar, and repetitively asking my mother what she was making for dinner. In high school, my best friend’s family life revolved around the kitchen in...
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