Check out what's going on at Hammer & NER

Hammer Residences

Northeast Residence

Happenings

February 2022

Reach for Ralph, Hammer’s Annual Fundraiser is ON!

As Covid case numbers are decreasing we have recently decided to host our annual fundraising event. We’re just getting started and need your help!

Join the planning committee or the event advocacy team! If you are interested in helping us with this important and fun event please contact Ginger@Hammer.org for more information.

Become a Sponsor early so your name gets on all of our promotional materials. Contact Angela@Hammer.org to find out how you will get recognition for your support.

Donate to our auction: More on this coming soon.

Date and location to be determined, but we are shooting for this summer. We are all very excited to gather in person again and are cautiously optimistic. We will limit guest count to avoid overcrowding and provide an at-home option.

Disability Services Day at the Capitol

It's almost time for Disability Services Day at the Capitol!

The event will once again be held virtually this year. On March 8, you'll have the opportunity to attend a virtual "Rally in the Rotunda" kickoff, meet with legislators, and take part in a social media storm.

To learn more about the event, take a look at this toolkit. You can also find more information and register on the ARRM website.

Hammerversaries

We have a number of Hammerversaries this month including 4 employees who have been with Hammer for over 15 years!

Pictured here clockwise from top left are Stacy Esposito (APM, 25 years), Katie Bell (Program Director, 15 years), Doris Odon (DSP, 15 years), and Connie Duopu (DSP, 15 years).

Other Hammer employees celebrating significant Hammerversaries this month include Sue Legeros (Finance, 5 years), Randall Sarkor (DSP, 5 years), Mohamed Abdi (DSP, 5 years), Cheryl Oie (Receptionist, 5 years), Samira Hashi (DSP, 5 years), Kate West (Program Manager, 3 years), and Matt Berg (IT, 3 years).

Thanks for all you do for Hammer!

NER February Anniversaries

Here are the NER employees celebrating anniversaries with the company this month....

John Hauwiller (DSP, 17 years), Katelyn Stanoch (DSP, 7 years), Peter Grandahl (Lead DSP, 3 years), Deanna Pugh (DSP, 2 years), Elijah Berg (Director of HR, 1 year), and Moyosore Kassim (DSP, 1 year).

Congratulations and thanks for all you do for NER!

Aspiring Artist

Adam Daggs is a young man very passionate about creating art. In 2014, Adam suffered a spinal cord injury that resulted in a diagnosis of quadriplegia, leaving him unable to create his art using his hands.

Adam did not let his injury affect his love for creating art. He instead put the “ability” in disability and began creating his art using his mouth to hold the tool that brings his art to life.

Adam wants to make a career of creating art, whether it be from selling his drawings, creating characters for comic books or manga (Japanese comics), or doing visual arts for movies, TV shows, or computer games.

The pictures included in this post are anime characters that Adam created and put onto paper. Adam has a vast collection of drawings that are equally as impressive. Adam would love to connect with anyone who would like to discuss his art in more detail, including drawing a piece for you or purchasing an existing piece. If you’re interested in connecting with Adam, please contact Jennifer Francis, Adam's case manager, at 952-345-8523 or Jennifer.Francis@hammer.org.

Out & About

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!

Thanks to Donors Like YOU, Jon is Doing Well

by Beth Bouman, Jon's Sister

The past two years have been tough for many people. For my brother, Jon, it was particularly devastating. In March, 2020, Vonnie Olson, our mom, had a heart attack and died. Seventy-nine days later Pastor Orville Olson, our father, died of Covid.

Jon was stunned by our mother’s sudden death. She died after attending church before her assisted living stopped activities for the Covid lock down. Dad was living in the same facility. Jon and I were not allowed to visit our dad due to the lock down, but thanks to hospice care we were able to talk on the phone. Read the whole story here on our blog.