Two Hearts & Hammers Family Groups, One Coincidental Connection
Some coincidences just feel meant to be. This fall, two of Hearts & Hammers’ longest-running volunteer groups – each with deep roots in our history – went out on the very same weekend. They didn’t meet on the job site or plan it that way, but the timing felt poetic: two teams that have quietly carried the Hearts & Hammers mission forward for decades, working side by side in spirit.
The Walker Group: Building on Bob’s Legacy
Kyal Klawitter has been leading what’s now known as the Walker Group for nearly two decades. The team’s story starts in 2007, when Bob Walker, founder of Hearts & Hammers, rallied colleagues from the Maple Grove Hospital project to take on a home together. BWBR Architects, DJ Kranz Construction, Walker & Associates, ERC Electrical, MMC, and Dunham Engineering teamed up that year for their first Program Day – and they’ve been coming back ever since.
“Bob thought it would be great for Hearts & Hammers, and a good team-building event for the folks working together professionally,” Kyal remembers. “We even managed to do a house during COVID, practicing social distancing in the process.”
That tradition, born out of collaboration and friendship, has become a cornerstone of the group’s identity. Over 19 homes later, they’re still showing up – same spirit, same commitment, and a few new faces from NDSU alumni to replace old partners.
This year, the team worked on the home of Bonnie and John “Jack” Pojar, a kind and humble couple in their 80s. Jack, a U.S. veteran, uses a walker and can no longer perform the maintenance tasks he once could. The team made the home water and pest-tight – no small feat – and left it in great shape for years to come. “They were both just overjoyed with all that we did for them,” Kyal said.
Ask Kyal why they keep at it, and his answer is simple: “It’s raw, unwatered down, immediate, and fulfilling.” The Walker Group’s projects are full of stories, but one that stands out is from 2014, when their homeowner, Sue Wallin, passed away just before Program Day. Her last wish had been that her husband, Neil, wouldn’t have to mow the steep hill beside their home anymore. A year later, Kyal and his team, with help from McGough Construction, returned to install a retaining wall in her honor.
“That project brought everything full circle,” Kyal said. “Sue’s dream was realized, Neil was cared for, and McGough went on to become one of Hearts & Hammers’ key supporters. A win all around.”
The Good Samaritan Group: Painting with Purpose
Meanwhile, across the metro, another long-standing team was rolling out ladders and paint trays. Good Samaritan United Methodist Church – lovingly known as “Good Sam” – has been part of Hearts & Hammers for more than 20 years. Led by H&H Board Chair and longtime captain Karen Bach, the group also includes Hearts & Hammers Board Members Max Romanaggi and Sam Verduci -as well as Sam’s wife and Karen’s sister Barb, who have all long been part of the Good Samaritan crew and bring both leadership and hands-on enthusiasm to every Program Day.
Karen says it all started through former H&H Director Mike Hutson. “Our group is very mission-focused and loves to see the results and the difference we are making,” she said. “Also, the volunteers have fun together and enjoy seeing each other.”
Karen still remembers her first Program Day clearly: painting alongside Mike’s 6’8” son (“He didn’t even need a ladder!”), laughing with teammates, and feeling that spark that’s kept her coming back ever since.
Today, the Good Sam team runs their own show – planning scopes, recruiting volunteers, and handling prep and repairs. This year, they served Verlena, a homeowner in her later years who could no longer maintain her house on her own. “Her neighbors were coming out and complimenting our work,” Karen said. “She took such pride in her home.”
Over two decades and roughly 25 homes later, the group has plenty of memories – including one homeowner who came outside and played the accordion while the volunteers worked. “We just love seeing the after images and what a difference one day can make,” Karen said.
Two Stories, One Mission
The Walker and Good Samaritan teams may not have crossed paths that weekend, but their stories are deeply intertwined – both connected to Hearts & Hammers founder Bob Walker, both driven by the same joy of service, and both proof that good work done consistently over time can ripple through generations.
“The people, the volunteers, and the homeowners – that’s what keeps us coming back,” Kyal said.
Karen agrees: “It’s an easy way to promote teamwork, have some fun, and make a difference in our community.”
And that’s exactly what both teams did – on the same weekend, by pure coincidence, continuing the work Bob started nearly 40 years ago.
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