fbpx

Let Us Give Thanks … And Eat Pie

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...

Read More

Our Collective Legacy at Hammer

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...

Read More

Advocacy Made Simple – You Can Make a Difference!

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...

Read More

The Death of “Assistive” Technology

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...

Read More

Home Is Where the Kitchen Is

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...

Read More

Making a House (or Apartment) a Home

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...

Read More

CSA All the Way

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,...

Read More

“You Could Alway Apply to Hammer, You Know…”

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...

Read More

Fences Don’t Make Good Neighbors

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...

Read More

We’re All in This Together

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...

Read More

“Don’t Worry, I Got This!”

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...

Read More

Peace of Mind

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....

Read More