By Ann Martinka, Hammer Travel Customer Relations My name is Ann Martinka and I have been employed by Hammer Travel, for almost ten years. My husband Bob and I have three children and our middle child, Joy, was born with Down Syndrome. Being the only girl, Joy was lucky enough to get her own room....
On January 2021, Hammer Residences, Inc. (Hammer) located in the Twin Cities west metro will acquire Northeast Residence (NER), located in the northeast suburbs. The two organizations are non-profit disability service providers that support individuals with developmental disabilities in group...
By Angela Bernhardt, Director of Major Gifts One of my favorite things about working at Hammer is the people. Honestly, the best people work at Hammer! In my role in the development department, I often share stories of those we serve and their caregivers. In typical Hammer fashion, the people who...
By Ginger Venable, Event and Project Manager at Hammer Residences Through this pandemic, many true heroes have emerged. Jack Moy, Eagle Scout, with help from his family and troop leaders has volunteered his free time during the pandemic to build three amazing pieces for Hammer Residences. Two...
By Angela Bernhardt, Director of Major Gifts Reading back a grant application submitted in March seems like a lifetime ago. Katie Pease, our Community Life Coordinator, had been planning a project idea with multidisciplinary artist Xochi de la Luna, and Cow Tipping Press, a nonprofit that teaches...
By Angela Bernhardt, Director of Major Gifts Geritom Medical is a family-owned, independent pharmacy focused on those with special needs, with over 8,000 customers and 1,000 facilities served. Working closely with Hammer’s nursing team, they provide pharmacy and medical supply services to...
By Angela Bernhardt, Director of Major Gifts When the pandemic began, Sue Pretzel called the hospital in Aitken, Minnesota to see how she could help. A lifelong quilter, she was sent a pattern for face masks and got to work at her home on Big Sandy Lake in McGregor using her vast supply of fabric...
By Barbara Brandt, Director of Communication at Hammer Residences It is certain, that COVID19 has affected each our lives, truly beyond measure. The virus has affected every organization, family and individual. And through this pandemic, many true heroes have emerged. A few weeks ago, Kim Hansen,...
By Cathy Thoma, Director of Volunteer Resources Congratulations to Hammer’s Community Partner Award Recipient – Medica! Thank you to the Medica employees who have and continue to volunteer their time engaging with the individuals we support. Your dedication and commitment has truly enriched so...
By Cathy Thoma, Director of Volunteer Resources Andy and Sarah are the amazing coaches for Hammer’s Floor Hockey League. As Katie Pease, Hammer’s Community Life Coordinator says, “They have grown the Hammer Floor Hockey program into what it is today and are 100% dedicated to every part of the...
By Cathy Thoma, Director of Volunteer Resources The Sauer Family has been volunteering with the individuals at our Unity home since 2013. Since then, John, Linda and Abby have accrued over 700 hours of service! #LocalLight It all began when Abby took a service learning class at Benilde-St....
By Cathy Thoma, Director of Volunteer Resources Cindi Laurent is one of our Hammer Community Partner Award recipients and a volunteer extraordinaire. Cindi has been volunteering with Hammer since 2015 and has accrued over 1,000 hours of service! Cindi is Carol’s one on one volunteer. They have...
By Cathy Thoma, Director of Volunteer Resources It’s Volunteer Appreciation Week, and we would like to introduce you to Hammer’s Community Partner Youth Award recipient, Abby Oldham. Abby Oldham is a senior at Wayzata High School, and a one on one volunteer with Gina at Emery. When Abby...
By Angela Bernhardt, Director of Major Gifts Hammer Residences is excited to welcome Twin City Heating and Air back as a sponsor of Hammer’s Reach for Ralph event. There’s a family connection between Hammer and Twin City Heating and Air. Business owner Wymond Wong’s wife, Julie Wesley-Wong, is a...
By Regan Vanevenhoven, Lead Care Coordinator Just over 3 years ago, I transitioned from the program side of Hammer into the Care Coordination Department which is located within the Customized Support Services, or what we like to call Hammer West. For those of you who may not know, Hammer West is...
Congratulations to Andy Bleck and Sarah Montgomery, Volunteers of the Month for December! Andy and Sarah are the awesome coaches for Hammer’s Floor Hockey League. Andy first began volunteering at Hammer as a one on one volunteer. He found this so rewarding that he wanted to connect with more...
By Samantha Young, Assistant Program Manager at Hammer Residences I have supported Jeanne, who lives at our Queensland home, since the day I started working at Hammer. Like everyone, holidays are also really important to the individuals we support. Jeanne usually spent the holidays with one of her...
Congratulations to Tom Venable, Volunteer of the Month for November! Tom has been volunteering with Alex for the past year. Tom first heard about Hammer through his wife, Ginger, who works as Hammer’s Event Planner. Last year he decided he wanted to bring a little fun and joy to someone we support...
Jan Hopper, 1st Avenue Assistant Program Manager Every year Christ For People has a Christmas pageant unlike any pageant you have seen. It is not like the typical Christmas program with a couple of angels and a few shepherds along with the rest of the cast. This...
There are people who make a lasting impression on their first impression. If you have met Joe Esposito, you would remember him, and he would have definitely made an impression on you. His famous phrase “Hey, how you doin?” has rung through the central office and many Hammer homes and apartments...
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