In 2023, Hammer Residences will be celebrating our 100^th anniversary and Northeast Residence will be celebrating our 50^th anniversary. What an amazing coincidence!

Please join us in the yearlong celebration. We need your stories and photos. Are you interested in helping us plan our celebration? Will you host a party at a Hammer or NER Home? Can you help gather photos and create a scrapbook? Do you have any connections with local media that could get our stories in the news? We have a modest budget so help us think of fun, inexpensive ways to celebrate.



Let us know your area of interest and how you want to be involved.

Please contact us:

Ginger.Venable@Hammer.org or 952-245-0115

NReed@NERInc.org or 651-419-8670

The Greater White Bear Lake Community Foundation (GWBLCF) awarded a grant to NER to assist with encouraging new and increased donor engagement.

Nate Reed, Fundraising Manager, Andy B. who lives at the Highway 96 home, and Wade Hartmann, Lead Direct Support Professional at Highway 96 attended the Foundation’s Day of Sharing event in early December, connecting new people to NER’s mission and enjoying some food and community.

Thank you GWBLCF!

We are pleased to announce the December recipients of our Celebrate a Caregiver program: Stacey Iverson in the west metro and Cathy Pigg in the east metro.

Click here to learn more about our

“Caregivers of the Month” for December!

We held a party recently at our West Central Office to say goodbye to Stef Miller, who is retiring from Hammer after 22 years!

As our receptionist, Stef's friendly personality is one of the first impressions most people get of Hammer if they call or stop by the office. We'll miss her so much but wish her the best on her retirement!!

We have several west metro employees celebrating significant anniversaries this month.

Clockwise from top, Sara Husfeldt (PM, 25 years), Joe Esposito (Finance, 25 years), Olufemi Wusu (DSP, 20 years), Sue Lynott (DSP, 5 years), Leah Friedel (Lead DSP, 3 years), and Olumuyiwa Ogundipe (DSP, 3 years).

Congratulations and thank you for all you do!

Here are the east metro employees celebrating anniversaries this month.

Wade Hartmann (Lead DSP, pictured to the right, 21 years), Mary Namondo (DSP, 4 years), Kristy Corbit (DSP, 2 years), and Kayla Domfeld (DSP, 1 year). 

Congratulations and thanks for all you do!

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!



Thank you to all the volunteers that helped make Cooks in the Kitchen a success in its first year! 

In 2022 we held Cooks in the Kitchen 45 times making 80 meals each week. This comes to a grand total of 3,600 meals! Groups from local businesses as well as many individuals volunteered on Tuesday mornings to prep, cook, and package the meals that were then delivered to both west metro and east metro homes by our staff.

Not only were the meals appreciated by the staff and people that we support because they were delicious, but it allowed staff to spend more personal care time with those they serve, especially when a house was short staffed. 

If you or someone you know would be interested in participating in Cooks in the Kitchen, please contact Cathy Thoma at cthoma@hammer.org, or 952-345-8554.

If you are 70 1/2 years old or older you can give up to $100,000 per year from your IRA directly to Hammer & NER.

The transfer generates neither taxable income nor a tax deduction, so you benefit even if you do not itemize your deductions. Since the gift doesn’t count as income, it can reduce your annual income level, which may help lower your Medicare premiums and decrease the amount of Social Security that is subject to tax.

Contact your IRA plan administrator to request that a qualified charitable distribution be made directly to Hammer Residences (tax ID 41-0841103). Your gift will be put to use right away, allowing you to see the difference your donation is making.

Questions? Call the Development Department at 952-473-1261.