Life Comes Full Circle
As a part of our mission, we have made a commitment to support and care for people through all stages of life. More than 20 years ago we recognized that the people we supported had changing needs as they aged. Many of them came to us as very young adults, and some as older adults. With advances in preventative medical care, more people were living healthier, longer lives.
Cooks in the Kitchen Expands to White Bear Lake
Cooks in the Kitchen started back in 2021, in the kitchen at our Wayzata office, that provided hot meals to individuals living in four of our group homes. Launching this opportunity was a major endeavor. It began with staff members piloting the program, cooking the meals, and working out all the kinks. Once those were resolved, new and existing volunteers stepped in. The volunteers would cook and assemble, then staff would deliver the meals to our homes. The Cooks in the Kitchen program has now expanded to our East office in White Bear Lake!
Investing in Tomorrow
My relationship with Hammer Residences began 15 years ago, when a colleague at Allina Health invited me to sit with him on the Human Rights Committee as a volunteer pharmacist reviewing cases each month. He, like me, has a child with a developmental disability.
Aging Gracefully with James
James and I have known each other for seven years. It’s safe to say that I have aged with James just as much as he’s aged with me. We both have had to adjust in ways that we could never have imagined. Reflecting on how James has impacted me, he has taught me so much about living life; that even in the darkest times there is always a reason to smile.
Advocating for Disability Rights
Rich Stoebe joined the Hammer & NER Board of Directors in January. He says participating on the Board, Program Committee, and Advocacy Committee comes with a learning curve, however, not without wonderful support from other volunteers and staff members. The Hammer & NER Vision and Strategic Plan is inspiring, he says, and he is thoughtfully looking for ways to support this essential work.
Day Supports Program is a Day Brightener!
There have been many changes to external day programs, staffing within our homes, and our ability as an organization to provide community engagement due to the staffing changes post pandemic. These left many of our individuals home or “retired” from their previous day programs. They spent a lot more time at home and lost out on opportunities to engage with peers, get out and into the community, and participate in activities that are physically and mentally stimulating. Simply put, many needed a reason to get up in the morning. Recently, the lower-level area of our Eastside office space, which was historically used by Northeast Residence (NER), was turned into an extended day supports space.
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