throughout the Metro where residents live and are provided with services.
“ Hammer & NER does not receive funding directly from the government. Rather, individuals who need our services with their guardians are empowered to select a care provider and direct their Medical Assistance benefits. This ensures our care and support services are people-centered because if our care doesn’ t meet their needs they can move to a different provider,” explained John Estrem, Hammer & NER’ s Chief Executive Officer.
“ This year 94 percent of our budget is from those services, and those dollars are very highly regulated. That is why our fundraising is so important. The real needs people have to live life to the fullest are often greater than what those regulations address. That’ s where our community has stepped in to meet those needs, which typically include things such as dental care, durable medical equipment, resident experiences and home renovations,” added Isaiah Allen, Hammer & NER’ s Chief Development Officer.
Hammer & NER hopes to raise $ 2 million through its annual fundraising efforts in 2026. Their largest fundraising event,“ Reach for Ralph” will take place at the Metropolitan Ballroom in Golden Valley the evening of Thursday, June 18, 2026.
“ Our fundraising efforts are increasingly focused on meeting the gap between government funding and what the needs of the people we support are for their services,” said Allen.
Ten of Hammer & NER’ s homes need significant renovations, such as new windows and improved accessibility.
Hammer & NER also puts a lot of effort into improving the quality of life for its
residents. A Fall Family Fest will be held on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at the Heritage Center in Brooklyn Center.
Families, friends and supporters of the organization are invited to attend the free afternoon event. It will begin with a presentation of the annual report and recognition of partners, then be followed by an indoor-outdoor party. The party is expected to attract about 500 people and will feature face painting, caricature art, live music and games.
In addition to the housing and care services it provides, Hammer & NER also has its own travel agency. Hammer & NER Travel provides full escorted travel experiences for adults with disabilities.
“ We do roughly 30 to 35 trips a year to places like Disney World, Cancun, Las Vegas, Nashville, Wisconsin Dells, The Badlands, Mall of America and Duluth,” said Allen.
“ The trips we offer all sellout way in advance. Generally, trips involve about twelve travelers and three or four staff members or volunteers,” said Estrem, who added that one-third of the travelers who use the agency also live in homes managed by Hammer & NER.
Hammer & NER – East Metro 2539 County Road E East White Bear Lake, MN 55110 651-765-0217
Hammer & NER – West Metro 1909 Wayzata Blvd. Wayzata, MN 55391 952-473-1261
NE Youth and Family Services
Residents of the northeast metro are fortunate to have access to mental health and social services through a nonprofit that has been serving the community since 1976. Northeast Youth & Family Services( NYFS) was founded by a coalition of concerned community members and a combination of individuals that were working at the city municipalities and with two local school districts at the time..
“ They came together and said we really need some support for youth in our community,” said Angela Lewis- Dmello, President and CEO, NYFS.“ So, they pulled money from ten initial municipalities so we could hire four staff members.” Today, there are 55 staff and interns serving the mission.
Initially, the organization had two service lines: youth diversion services for adolescents who had committed some kind of crime and family and individual therapy services. Today, NYFS is a culturally responsive, trauma informed organization that serves clients from birth to adult through its mental health department. There is clinic-based care, school-based care and communitybased care available.
“ Our goal is to support holistic healing, really thinking about individuals and their families and their communities,” said Lewis-Dmello. NYFS offers individual therapy, group therapy, play therapy, art therapy and trauma-focused therapy.
The nonprofit works with people living with a variety of mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression, trauma, autism, ADHD and other psychiatric conditions. Plus, there are community services offered that include“ Youth Pathways,” which does some youth development and diversion work, and“ Restoring Power,” which provides advocacy and therapy for victims of domestic and sexual violence.
“ Part of what makes NYFS really unique is our partnerships. We have really deep partnerships with 16 different municipalities now, three school districts and a variety of community organizations that help us make a
vhedc. com 35