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...
By Tim Eshelman, Director of Environmental Services In my 24 years at Hammer in the maintenance department, I have watched many of those we support grow up – many who have become like a family to me. It’s an honor for me to provide those we support with a place they are proud to call home, a home...
By Emily Miller, Community Life Coordinator I can’t believe it is already September! These last few months have been extremely busy at Hammer trying to squeeze in all the fun (and food) that summer has to offer. We have had walking and running groups, hiking and biking events, fishing outings,...
By Katie Binning, Program Manager I’ve always felt like I’ve grown up at Hammer. Lisbeth Armstrong (our Chief Program Officer) is a close friend of my parents. I was lucky enough to have her and her husband Mark heavily involved in my life. When “Take Your Daughter to Work Day” came along and...
By Kathy Lund, Mother of Jessica My adult daughter lives with five other individuals in a Hammer home in Golden Valley. They moved there in February, 2008. It is a beautiful, spacious house on a corner lot with a large driveway area for parking. At the time, the house and yard was screened from...
By Ginny Kjellesvig A few years ago I was working at Hammer’s Gardner home. I had been married less than two weeks, and it was my first shift back – Friday through Saturday afternoon. Only one of the ladies, Miss Dawn, was home that weekend. Just as she was getting settled for the evening, I got...
By Nan Bigot and Patty Hastings, Finance Every Friday as a treat, some folks from the Finance Department choose a place to grab a quick lunch – usually to go. It’s a nice way to get out of the Hammer Central Office and breathe some fresh air! Well, on Friday a few weeks ago, Patty Hastings and I...
By Bill and Joanne Culbert We are grandparents and guardians to Christie Hanson who lives at Hammer’s Avana apartment program. Christie is our very special grandchild (we have nine!) and is presently as happy as she has ever been. In fact, Christie keeps reminding us that she never wants to move....
By Kim Hansen, Director of Human Resources I came to Hammer 36, yes thirty six, years ago as a student intern. I was fresh out of college with a zest for life, new ideas to share and wanting to make a difference in the world. Well, more than three and a half decades later, my zest isn’t as zesty...
On Thursday, July 24th over 450 people came together to make dreams come true for the people we serve. Our annual summer benefit was a huge success thanks to a wonderful group of people that made the magic happen. In addition to an army of volunteers the night of the event, a group of 15...
by Rosemary Fish As my friend Tony Baisley, Hammer’s Director of Communication, advises, “Write about what you know.” Okay, since that’s pretty straightforward, I’ll go right to the topic I know best: being the parent of a daughter with special needs. By way of introduction, my daughter Leslie is...
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