It takes a lot of help to run Union County's only full-time homeless shelter for men, women and families. Providing emergency shelter, food and rehousing requires not just a network of caring friends, but friends of friends. And when the economy tanks thanks to a global pandemic, the challenge increases.

That's why we're kicking off Community Shelter Super Stars campaign, to be held in May. We seek to tap the creativity and kindness in this community that has helped us stay open and serve for 28 years. (Full information on Super Stars at www.UnionShelter.org/Superstars)

The campaign begins with our chairs. Union County Sheriff Eddie Cathey is honorary co-chair, joining chairs Kathy Bragg, former Shelter CEO, and attorney Jordan Griffin, a partner with Leitner, Bragg & Griffin Law.

The chairs have committed to raising $1,000 each and to identifying others who also commit to raising $1,000 each and recruiting others.

How funds are raised is completely up to each Super Star. You can hold bake sales, hold fitness challenges, run a community yard sale, a raffle, ask businesses to sponsor you, host a dinner, throw a party or a car wash. Or use social media in a new and fabulous way.

Bottom line, all proceeds help the Community Shelter fight homelessness and hunger in Union County. So it's a local effort to directly help and invest in our neighbors, many of whom may be facing economic hardship for the first time.

The Community Shelter of Union County, through its campus at 160 Meadow St. in Monroe, provides three meals daily, every day, in its dining hall that is open to independently-living Union County residents in need of a meal as well as onsite temporary residents. Our dorms provide safe shelter for residents, and case managers support them in their effort to return to independent living. We provide help with moving costs, thanks to donated funds and furniture, and we support each resident for up to a year with follow-up case management.

Our approach works - we have outcomes that lead state and national averages. Our success is due to the generosity and tenacity of our friends, volunteers and hard-working staff.

As we say often, we can't do this without you, so thank you for considering joining the ranks of Super Stars in this campaign.