Hammer Residences, Inc.

10/09/2026

🎉 Celebrating 45 Incredible Years! 🎉

After 45 years of dedicated service to Hammer & NER, we're wishing a very happy retirement to Cate Saracen Peters!

Throughout her remarkable career, Cate served in a variety of roles, bringing compassion, wisdom, and a genuine commitment to our mission. Most recently, as our Employee Success Coach, she helped guide, mentor, and encourage team members as they navigated challenges and grew in their roles.

Cate's impact on our organization and the people we support is immeasurable. Her warmth, dedication, and leadership have touched countless lives over the years, and she will certainly be missed!

Please join us in thanking Cate for 45 extraordinary years and wishing her all the best as she begins this exciting new chapter! 💙

Happy Retirement, Cate! 🎉

10/06/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Fall Family Fest this past Saturday! It was wonderful to bring together the people we support, families, guardians, employees and friends for a day of connection and celebration.

Take a look at some of our favorite moments from the day!

https://hammer.org/photo-gallery/2026-fall-family-fest/

We want to thank our amazing sponsors who helped make the Fall Family Fest possible: Premier Banks, Plymouth, MN Lions Club, and Wings Credit Union! We’re also grateful to Wright-Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association Trust and its Operation Round Up program for generous grant support through our Quality of Life Fund.

Thank you for being part of the Hammer & NER community and helping make our first Fall Family Fest so special.

09/23/2026

Connection changes everything. ❤️

For Diane Sjolander, that connection is deeply personal. As both a Hammer & NER Board Member and the mother of Sam, who lives in a Hammer & NER home, she knows the peace that comes from knowing someone you love is safe, supported, and truly at home.

That kind of connection is built every day by our Direct Support Professionals. This fall, your gift will help Hammer & NER invest in DSP compensation and career coaching—helping us retain the caring, committed people who make a lasting difference in the lives of those we support.

Read Diane’s story and learn how you can make a difference:

There is a particular kind of peace that comes from knowing your child is safe. Not just housed but truly home. In a place where he is known, where his […]

09/18/2026

Wrapping Up DSP Recognition Week 💙

As DSP Recognition Week comes to a close, we have a few more smiles from this week’s celebrations to share!

Throughout the week, we’ve celebrated our DSPs, Lead DSPs, Float Specialists, Program Managers, and Assistant Program Managers with special gifts, sweet treats, raffle prizes, and — most importantly — a whole lot of gratitude.

Whether supporting someone through a challenging moment, celebrating an accomplishment, helping someone connect with their community, or simply being there day after day, our staff make a difference in countless ways.

We hope this week has been a reminder of just how much your dedication, compassion, and commitment are appreciated.

Thank you for everything you do to help the people we support live life to its fullest. Happy DSP Recognition Week! 🎉💙

09/17/2026

DSP Recognition Week: Advocacy in Action 💙

As we continue celebrating DSP Recognition Week, we’re also reminded of the importance of advocating for the people who make our work possible.

Earlier this week, State Representative Peter Fischer (District 44A) visited our Allen home in Little Canada, where he had the opportunity to meet with Hammer & NER staff and learn more about the work happening every day in our homes.

Legislative visits like this give us an important opportunity to share firsthand the impact of disability services — including the vital role DSPs play in helping people live life to its fullest.

Thank you to Rep. Fischer for taking the time to visit and listen, and to our staff who helped share the Hammer & NER story.

During DSP Recognition Week and throughout the year, we’re proud to advocate for the DSPs who make a difference every day. 💙

09/16/2026

Celebrating the Heart of Our Work 💙

DSP Recognition Week celebrations continue across Hammer & NER! Here are a few more photos from Monday’s special deliveries of Hammer & NER blankets and cookie treats to staff at our homes.

As Senior Directors Pam Janczewski and Jerry LeVasseur shared with our team today, our Direct Support Professionals make a meaningful difference every day. Through their patience, advocacy, compassion, and support, they help the people we support achieve their goals and live life to its fullest.

From the hard days to the milestones worth celebrating, we’re grateful for the people who keep showing up, caring deeply, and making a difference.

Thank you to our DSPs, Lead DSPs, Float Specialists, Program Managers, and Assistant Program Managers for all you do! Happy DSP Recognition Week! 🎉

09/15/2026

A Special DSP Week Delivery! 🎁🍪

DSP Recognition Week celebrations continued yesterday as Hammer & NER CEO Matt Buley stopped by our Allen home to deliver some special gifts and treats!

Matt is pictured with Allen Program Manager Ariel Kent and DSPs Kevin Heroff and James Tarweh, who received cozy Hammer & NER blankets and cookie treats as part of this week’s celebration.

Throughout DSP Recognition Week, we’re honoring our DSPs, Lead DSPs, Float Specialists, Program Managers, and Assistant Program Managers for the incredible work they do each day supporting people to live life to its fullest.

Matt was one of several staff and leaders who helped make deliveries to our homes yesterday. We’ll be sharing more photos from the celebrations throughout the week!

Happy DSP Recognition Week, and thank you for all you do! 💙

09/14/2026

It’s DSP Recognition Week! 🎉

All week long, we’re celebrating the incredible DSPs, Lead DSPs, Float Specialists, Program Managers, and Assistant Program Managers who make a difference every day at Hammer & NER!

Their dedication helps the people we support live full and meaningful lives, build connections, explore their communities, and enjoy new experiences. These photos from a recent sensory-friendly outing to the Walker Art Center are just one example! Staff and supported individuals enjoyed exploring the art, taking part in hands-on activities, playing mini golf, and spending time together.

Throughout the week, we’ll be showing our appreciation with gifts, treats, raffle prizes, and more. Most importantly, we want our team members to know how much we value everything they do for the people we support.

Thank you for all you do — and happy DSP Recognition Week! 💙

09/07/2026

🎡 Minnesota State Fair fun!

Missy and Ryan, two people we support, made it to the Great Minnesota Get-Together this year—and, of course, enjoyed some of the Fair’s famous treats!

Ryan went for a bucket of Sweet Martha’s cookies, while Missy enjoyed some delicious mini donuts. 🍪🍩

Looks like they both made some excellent State Fair choices! 😊

Thanks to our team members for sharing these fun photos with us!

09/06/2026

Our DSPs of the Month for August are Sadaq Ibrahim (5th Street) and Jill Peters (Holdridge). Marcella Moore (36th Street) is our Program Manager of the Month. Read about all that these dedicated and caring staff do for those we support!
https://hammer.org/blog/2026/08/dsps-pm-of-the-month-august/