Congrats to Quita Kialain from Hammer’s (West metro) Stone Creek home and Paul Roberts, DSP Float at NER (East metro) on being named our Celebrate a Caregiver award recipients for August!

Each month, we ask Hammer’s and NER’s Program Directors to nominate DSPs and APMs on their team who are going above and beyond to make a difference in the life (or lives) of those they serve. One nominee from Hammer and one from NER is selected and receives their choice of a $25 gift card to Starbucks, Target, Holiday, or Cub Foods.

Click here to learn more about why Quita and Paul were chosen as our “Caregivers of the Month” for August!

Thursday, October 6 

5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Wayzata Wine and Spirits is hosting a fundraiser for Hammer.

Stop by and donate $20 (cash only) to Hammer Residences, then pull a mystery bottle ranging in value from $20 - $55.

The fundraiser will begin at 5:00 p.m. and will go until the wine is gone. Wine tasting sponsored by Moet Hennessy.

747 Mill St E, Wayzata (in the same building as the Wayzata Muni).

by Lauren Pehler, Hammer Case Manager

Over the past several months and in years prior, individuals from Arrive and Renew residences, two apartment programs a few blocks apart in Eden Prairie, have been walking together twice a week. The individuals have enjoyed getting to know one another, and the walking crew has grown up to 10 participants at times!

Arrive DSP and walking facilitator Michael shares, “It provides a wonderful social outlet and has never fallen short of putting smiles on everyone’s face!” 

The individuals look forward to continuing walking together into the fall months. The friendships, memories, laughs, and socializing will be ongoing!

This year the Family Day Picnic will be held on Saturday, September 17, at the Hammer Central Office, located at 1909 Wayzata Blvd, Wayzata, MN 55391. Click here for more details.

This is the day where those we support come to celebrate a fun occasion with their family members and each other.

We are very excited for the picnic and all of the fun activities and games that come with it. We are looking for volunteers to help with the yard games, the community mural, nail painting, and the famous cookie walk!

The minimum age to volunteer is 16, or 14 accompanied by an adult. Volunteers are needed from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Don't worry, we have different shifts! The picnic itself runs from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Contact Cathy Thoma at cthoma@hammer.org if you would like to volunteer for this event.

We have a few Hammer employees celebrating significant anniversaries this month.

Clockwise from top in the photo, Lisa Payne (DSP, 10 years), Jacob Snell (PM, 10 years), Yurub Ali (DSP, 5 years), Sam Lazear (APM, 10 years).

Congratulations and thank you for all you do for Hammer!

Here are the NER employees celebrating anniversaries this month.

Diane Mack (DSP, 38 years), Susan Deiman (DSP, 38 years), Nanette Wrich (DSP, 28 years), Lynette Vickerman (Lead DSP, 15 years), Brittany Furey (Quality Assurance Specialist, pictured upper right, 10 years), Fatou Jaiteh (Lead DSP, 9 years), Chloe Schmidt (Support Specialist, 9 years), Olakunie David (PM, pictured to the left, 8 years), Shona Whittaker (DSP, 7 years), Ivory Dotson (DSP, 5 years), Adekunle Salako (DSP, 5 years), Omobolanie Egege (DSP, 4 years), Marie Djoumessi (DSP, 4 years) Collin Freutel (Lead DSP, 4 years), Rita Tri (DSP, 4 years), Janell Jones-Trester (DSP, 3 years), Matthew Bakare (DSP, 1 year), Adeniyi Afuye (DSP, 1 year) and Renay Lunzer (PM, pictured bottom right, 1 year).

Congratulations and thanks for all you do for NER!

Reliable transportation to work is critical. An unexpected maintenance expense presents a significant hardship – and prevents a caregiver from getting to work. At Hammer, we have a car repair fund for caregivers to utilize if their car breaks down.

In the first eight months of 2022, Hammer’s HR department has helped 53 caregivers repair their car for a total of $26,333.

However, we have only received 69 gifts from donors totaling $6,968. Caregivers like Bindu, pictured here, with his repaired car need your help.

Recently, a Hammer parent wanted to make a gift toward car repairs, but didn’t know how to do it.

How to donate: Click here to donate online.

Select Employee Emergency in the Designation drop down menu.

Mail a check to Hammer with a note indicating that your gift goes to the Employee Emergency Fund.

Without your support these caregivers are not able to get to work and support the individuals who count on them each day.

Earlier this month, we said goodbye to Kevin McLaughlin, Hammer's Payroll & Benefits Specialist. Kevin, known as "McMoney" around the office, was with Hammer for over 25 years! He was in our HR department for 12 years and was a Program Manager in our homes prior to that position.

We'll definitely miss his wit and knowledge around the office, but the good news is that he'll still be part of the Hammer family as he will continue to pick up direct care shifts in our homes as he has been doing for years.

Best of luck, Kevin!!

Each month in "Happenings" we'll be featuring some of our favorite photos of the people we support "out & about" having fun in their communities. Enjoy!