Officials in the small southeastern Minnesota city of St. Charles are rallying supporters on Facebook in hopes of convincing North Star Foods to rebuild in town after a devastating fire. That's a cause the the editorial board supports. Friday's lead editorial urged owners Brad Arndt and Pat Thesing to build anew in their hometown.

The North Star meat-processing plant, which supplies products for Hormel and ConAgra, burnt down April 17, forcing the town to evacuate. The plant's 250 jobs make it the largest private employer in the community of about 3,500. Mayor Bill Spitzer has led the charge to help secure economic aid for the company and on Friday, a wide range of government officials met at the St. Charles City Hall to figure out what types of state and federal assistance might be available.

The Facebook site is a creative way to boost the spirits of a community weathering a crisis. It's also a smart move to appeal to North Star officials' sense of good citizenship. The Facebook site is called Rebuild North Star Foods in St. Charles, MN. So far, more than 530 people have become fans. To lend your support, CLICK HERE.