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Union County Freeholders Vernell Wright (L) and Bette Jane Kowalski (R) present a resolution to Trish Stone of Roselle Park congratulating her on her retirement from the County of Union where she served as the Director of the Division of Planning in the Department of Human Services. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholders Bette Jane Kowalski (L) and Angel G. Estrada present a resolution to Janice C. Lilien, Executive Director of the YWCA of Union County, recognizing April 2014 as “National Child Abuse Prevention Month” in Union County. For more information about the YWCA of Union County, visit www.ywcaeuc.org. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that an online interactive map has been launched to assist the new “Support 4 Soldiers” campaign, a countywide civic engagement project conceived and designed by high school students.

In Support 4 Soldiers, students from all around Union County have joined together to collect healthy snacks, toiletries, and other basic items, which will be sent in care packages to active duty military personnel. The collection period ends on May 15.

The interactive map, at ucnj2.org/uc-step, makes it easy to find nearby collection boxes.

“Support 4 Soldiers is a wonderful demonstration of how our diverse community shares common goals,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak. “The Freeholder Board is very proud to lend a hand to Support 4 Soldiers and we encourage everyone to pitch in, too.”

Support 4 Soldiers was created by students who participated in the first ever UC STEP (Union County Student Training and Enrichment Program) Summit last December. In addition to collecting supplies, students across Union County are raising funds to offset shipping costs.

Support 4 Soldiers is sponsored by the Freeholder Board in partnership with the Westfield-based nonprofit organization Bonds of Courage (bondsofcourage.org).

UC STEP is a youth development program initiated by Freeholder Linda Carter during her term as Chairman last year.

For more information about Support 4 Soldiers and UC STEP, visit ucnj2.org/uc-step or call the Union County Department of Economic Development, 908-527-4200.

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Please join the County of Union online at ucnj.org, on Facebook at ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter at twitter.com/countyofunionnj.

PLAINFIELD, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders announces that its next mobile paper-shredding program for personal, confidential documents will be available on Friday, April 25, at Cedar Brook Park in Plainfield.

“Union County’s mobile document-shredding service helps residents fight identity theft and eliminate clutter in their homes,” said Freeholder Christopher Hudak, liaison to the Solid Waste Advisory Council. “It is a cost-effective way to assist our recycling efforts and it ties in with Union County’s other Go Green Initiatives.”

The April 25th shredding event will take place at Cedar Brook Park, located off Park Avenue in Plainfield, near the border with South Plainfield. NEXCUT Shredding of Elizabeth will be shredding documents at the site from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine. The shredding event will end before 1 p.m. if the shredding truck reaches capacity.

All Union County residents are eligible to use the paper-shredding service. In an effort to accommodate everyone, there is a limit of four, 10-pound bags or boxes per person. Documents should not be bound. Please remove plastic binders and paperclips. Paper that is wet/damp will not be accepted. Residents should continue to recycle non-confidential papers and magazines with their municipal recycling program.

Documents are put into 96-gallon containers provided by the shredding company. The items are then dumped onto a conveyor belt and shredded on site. Participants are welcome to view the shredding process via a closed-circuit television. The shredded documents are then recycled, shipped to paper mills and used as pulp. The next shredding event will take place Saturday, May 10, at Alcatel/Lucent in New Providence.

The mobile shredding program is paid for through New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Recycling Enhancement Act Grant Funds. For more information about future events or directions please call the Recycling Hotline at 908-654-9889 or visit us online atwww.ucnj.org/recycle .

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Union County Surrogate James LaCorte speaks to members of the Vauxhall senior citizen group about the importance of having a legal will during a recent meeting at the Union Township Community Action Center. For more information about a legal will or if you wish to arrange a date to have the Surrogate speak before your club or organization, call 908-527-4280 or visitwww.ucnj.org/government/surrogate. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

(From left) Union County Freeholder Sergio Granados, Union County Manager Alfred Faella, Ana Maria Amin, Director Residential Services at the YWCA of Union County, Janice C. Lilien, Executive Director of the YWCA of Union County, Acting Union County Prosecutor Grace Park, Freeholder Vernell Wright, Union County Assistant Prosecutor Anne Marie Bramnick and Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak attended the first annual Union County C.A.R.E.S. (Community, Action, Response, Education, Safety) Domestic Violence Symposium at Kean University in Union.

The symposium was co-sponsored by the YWCA of Union County, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, Kean University, the Rutgers University School of Social Work’s Center on Violence Against Women and Children, Trinitas Regional Medical Center and Verizon.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County, NJ – Union County residents are invited to participate in an online “Health & Well-Being Assessment” survey that will help identify continuing, unmet needs related to Superstorm Sandy and its aftermath.

The survey is available at ucnj.org/public-safety.

“It only takes a few minutes to complete the survey, and your input can assist with the ongoing process of recovery as the effects of this destructive storm continue to play out over the long term,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak.

In 2012, Super storm Sandy caused unprecedented damage to New Jersey’s housing, business, infrastructure, social service, health and environmental sectors.

The brief survey asks residents to record the extent to which they were affected by the storm, what resources they used to aid their recovery, and whether they are continuing to experience economic, physical, or mental health impacts.

The survey is sponsored by the Union County Office of Health Management under a Sandy Social Service Block Grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the NJ Department of Health.

Photo: Jim Lowney/County of Union.

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Please join the County of Union online at ucnj.org, on Facebook at ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter at twitter.com/countyofunionnj.

Union County, NJ – For 40 years, volunteer advocates from the Union County Rape Crisis Center (RCC) have helped women, children, and men cope with the aftermath of sexual violence. All new volunteers are trained and supported by staff and experienced volunteers. The next training session starts on April 22. RCC is a program of the Union County Department of Human Services. To find out how to join, call the RCC Hotline at 908-233-7273 or visit ucnj.org.

For additional information visit the RCC blog at blogspot.com.

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Please join the County of Union online at ucnj.org, on Facebook at ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter at twitter.com/countyofunionnj.