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Hammer Residences

Northeast Residence

Happenings

January 2022

New Look for "Happenings"

Starting this month we have a new look for this e-newsletter. We are combining the e-newsletters from Hammer and NER into one, now called "Happenings."

In January 2021, Hammer acquired NER and for the past year each organization continued to send out their own separate e-newsletters. Since we're both truly "better together" we thought it time to combine our e-newsletters!

You'll find all the great content you've come to expect in each e-newsletter, now conveniently found in one monthly combined edition!

NER had their last solo e-newsletter that came out a couple of weeks ago. You can view that here. Starting next month you'll see more combined content from both organizations.

Hammerversaries & NER Anniversaries

We recently had a couple of employees celebrating milestone Hammerversaries including DSP Shonte Williams (left) (3 years) and DSP Jo Nolan (right) (15 years).

At NER, Bonita Connolly and Traci Maruska are celebrating their 15 year anniversaries in the Corporate Office.

Congratulations and thank you for all you do for Hammer & NER!

Cooks in the Kitchen

Hammer has created a new volunteer program called “Cooks in the Kitchen”. We are inviting small groups of 4 to 6 volunteers to cook two recipes at a time in our Central Office kitchen.

These two meals are then distributed to four of our homes which are often short staffed. Having prepared meals available allow the staff at the homes more time to focus on the personal care and needs of the individuals living there. Recipes, groceries and supplies are all provided.

Currently Hammer Central Office employees are piloting the program by making the meals. If you would like more information about “Cooks in the Kitchen”, please contact Cathy Thoma at cthoma@hammer.org.

Advocacy Update

Save the Date! Disability Services Day at the Capitol is March 8, 2022! It will be virtual this year and easy to attend. More info here.

We are partnering with Advocating Change Together (ACT) to launch self-advocacy programs for people served by Hammer & NER. ACT has fun, free weekly events, both virtual and in-person. To learn about their Coffee Chat Check-ins, Disability Power Day, and Self-Advocacy Academy, visit here or contact our Director of Advocacy, Mary Gaasch.

Mary Gaasch and John Estrem are hosting two sessions of Advocacy 101, a virtual training for the advocacy-curious. All are welcome. John and Mary will make building relationships with your legislators fun and easy! Feel free to pop in.

The first session is on January 26 at 11 am. Click here for more information. The second session is on February 1 at 5 pm and more information on that session can be found here.

If you can't make these times, reach out to Mary for the information!

New NER Lead Nurse

Anyone who has worked or spent time around Brandi Sterry knows not only how fun she is, but how passionate she is about nursing. She's been a nurse at Hammer for several years.

Brandi recently accepted the Lead Nurse position at NER and will stay within our organization supporting the people that NER serves.

If you know someone who would be a great nurse at Hammer we do have a position open now that you can find more about here.

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!

You are Amazing! We are Grateful!

At the end of this difficult and challenging year, we are so grateful for the 1,100 donors who contributed more than $1,883,000 to Hammer in 2021. Thank you for caring for the 275 people we serve and our devoted caregivers.

We are only able to provide high quality and compassionate care all day, every day, because of donors who are passionate about Hammer’s mission. This high level of financial support is what sets Hammer apart from similar organizations.

To read more about how we used financial donations in 2021 to improve the lives of those we serve, please click here.