Cooks in the Kitchen
Cook a Meal. Make a Difference.
Cooks in the Kitchen is a volunteer opportunity to lend a helping hand!
Do you have a small team of friends, family, or coworkers who like to cook and are interested in a fun, quick, and easy volunteer opportunity? We have just the thing for you! Our Cooks in the Kitchen program is a great way for a small team of volunteers to lend a big helping hand to some of our homes that are particularly short staffed, allowing them to spend more time on personal care for the individuals, rather than cooking.
For questions, or to talk to someone on our Volunteer Resources department contact:
Cathy Thoma at cthoma@hammer.org
Or call 952-345-8554
Additional Types of Volunteers
We have a variety of volunteer opportunities to fit your interests and lifestyle. And you can also volunteer in more than one way. Some positions have a longer time commitment than other opportunities.
Each volunteer must complete an orientation through our volunteer department and pass a background check. Volunteers will receive additional training as needed for a specific area of service.
Direct Service Volunteer
Provide one-on-one companionship (at least once a month) for an individual with developmental disabilities who shares similar interests. You and your matched individual will decide what you will do during your time together such as movies, restaurants, concerts, crafting, or biking. This is an opportunity to give back to your community, while having fun at the same time! **Must be willing to commit to 1 year of service and possess a valid driver’s license.**
Corporate Volunteering
We enjoy developing opportunities with corporate groups. Engaging with the individuals we serve can be a wonderful experience for all. Examples of successful events include bowling parties, craft and game night, and Spring/Fall yard clean-up.
To discuss corporate options, contact Cathy Thoma at cthoma@hammer.org
Health & Wellness Coach
Provide support to an individual with developmental disabilities who would like to improve their health in areas of fitness, nutrition, or wellness. Meet once every week or two to participate in an exercise activity of that person’s choice, cook a healthy meal together, or participate in a stress-relieving activity such as yoga or meditation. **Must be willing to commit to 6 months of service and possess a valid driver’s license.**
Special Events Volunteer
Assist with our Annual Meeting, Reach for Ralph, the Family Day Picnic, or other annual special events as planned. Volunteers can assist with set-up, decorations, food preparation, entertainment, clean-up, and various other jobs. These are one-time commitments for each event. Volunteers are kept on a list and can say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to events as they arise.
Office Volunteer
Assist as needed with office work such as data entry or filing. There is room for a variety of skill-sets in multiple departments, and the time commitment will depend on the individual project. The volunteer should be available during normal business hours.
Hammer Travel Volunteers
If you love to travel and would like to help others experience the joys of travel, then please join our team!
Volunteers are responsible for supervising the daily operation of the trip to which he/she is assigned. He/she will ensure the trip itinerary runs smooth and efficiently, and with the assistance of other travel team members, oversee the medical, financial, and personal needs of travelers.
Cooks in the Kitchen
Cooks in the Kitchen – A Volunteer Opportunity to Lend a Helping Hand!
Do you have a small team of friends, family, or coworkers who like to cook and are interested in a fun, quick, and easy volunteer opportunity? We have just the thing for you! Our new Cooks in the Kitchen program is a great way for a small team of volunteers to lend a big helping hand to some of our homes that are particularly short staffed. Volunteers cooking and providing meals for those homes allow staff to spend more time on personal care for the individuals living there.
Most volunteer teams have 4 – 6 people in their group. The team is welcomed into our Hammer & NER central office kitchen for two to three hours and prepare two recipes, serving 80 – 100 meals each. The meals are then delivered to our homes in need. As a thank you, each volunteer receives one of our specially designed Cooks in the Kitchen potholders.
No special culinary skills required! The volunteer team is provided with the recipes and ingredients. After some brief instruction the volunteers begin the prep, which can involve browning hamburger, or chopping chicken, along with cutting up lots of veggies. Hammer & NER’s kitchen is well stocked with all the utensils, tools, and pots and pans that are needed. The meals are cooked and then divided into large containers, put into special carrying containers, and delivered to our homes.
Here’s what one of our first volunteer teams had to say about Cooks in the Kitchen:
Melissa Yajko, Director of Sales Strategy at Business Essentials
“We’ve done Cooks in the Kitchen several times,” Melissa says. “It’s great for team building and fun to work on doing something completely different. We wanted to start getting out there in the community. We wanted to find a way to give of our time and Hammer & NER makes it easy, and we got to learn more about what they do. The recipes are there, things are ready to go. The whole process is very easy to just step into to help out.
Cooks in the Kitchen sessions are held on Tuesdays, at Hammer & NER’s Central office, 1909 Wayzata Blvd in Wayzata. Sessions generally start around 9 am and most teams are done by 11:30 am. Contact Cathy Thoma at cthoma@hammer.org to schedule your team today!