CAMBRIDGE — Once again we are asking our Dorchester Banner readers to help us recognize some of our hometown heroes. This is the fifth year we have requested nominations for those people in the community who usually go unrecognized for their special acts.

For more than a century, The Banner’s mission has been to educate and celebrate the Heart of Chesapeake Country, and to fulfill that mission, we have published countless stories about the people who make this community what it is. But we know there are more stories out there — people who haven’t received the recognition they may deserve. You’ve heard about these people before, they’re called “unsung heroes.”

So, for the upcoming year, please help us praise these “unsung heroes.” The nominee could be anyone who goes above and beyond to help others or overcome obstacles ­— someone who helps in an emergency, a neighbor who organizes a benefit for a family having financial troubles, or a particularly good teacher or community advocate. Anyone who creates a bright spot in our community.

All the nominees will be honored on the Banner’s website — DorchesterBanner.com — and some will be featured in a special publication in February of 2017.

To honor such people, we need readers to submit names of those who have acted heroically.

There are eight categories:

• Community — A person who has donated their time or has done something to improve the community.

• Business — An organization or group of people who have undertaken a project to help others.

• Mentor/Coach — A person who has made a dramatic impact in the life of another.

• Emergency Responder — A person who steps forward during an emergency to help.

• Faith/Spiritual — A person who makes an impact in their church or the religious community.

• Youth — A younger member of the community who has found a special way to brighten the day of others.

• Educator — A teacher, current or retired, who has found ways to inspire students beyond their own expectations.

• Lifetime achievement — A long-standing community member who has consistently and tirelessly stepped forward and exemplified a passion for giving.

Super Heroes will be chosen from each category by a committee consisting of last year’s heroes, which includes April Dean Goodman, Pastor Cesar Gonzalez, Veterinarian Dr. Carol R. Lewis, Jerry T. Burroughs, David Cannon, Ric Otey, Bessie Griep and Herschel F. Johnson. The committee will review the nominations and select a superhero for each category along with two runners up. Those winners will be featured in a special publication and will be honored with an awards ceremony in February. All nominations must be received by Jan. 29.

Look for the Hometown Heroes nomination form in today’s Banner. Please give your full name and town of the person or persons you want to nominate, their full name and contact information, which category they fit into and explain why you think they deserve recognition. Send your hero nominations to hometownheroes@newszap.com or drop off or mail them to The Banner, 103 Cedar St., Cambridge, MD 21613. Or you can go online at the DorchesterBanner.com website and click on the Hometown Heroes advertisement on the right side of the homepage and click it to be taken to a form you can fill out and submit electronically.

Please note that past winners of the Hometown Heroes award are not eligible for nomination for 2016. These fine folks include: Dr. Michael Moskewicz, Rufus & Lorraine Todd, Lorraine Henry, Libby Handley Nagel, Buddy Mowbray, Pat Wilcox, Calvin Stack, Juanita Weber Darby, Ken Malik, Martin Sharp, Tracy Tyler, Steve Rideout, Major DeRue Hoffman, the Rev. Charles Cephas, the Rev. George Ames, Steve Bloodsworth, Francis Bloodsworth, Dr. Oluwole Olusola, Lois Narr, Wylie Gray Sr., Jake Coleman, Phoenix Bell, Danielle Waters, April Dean Goodman, Cesar Gonzalez, Dr. Carol R. Lewis, Jerry T. Burroughs, David Cannon, Ric Otey, Bessie Griep and Herschel F. Johnson.

Help us give recognition to the real unsung heroes of Dorchester County — nominate your favorites today, for 2017’s list of Hometown Heroes in the Heart of Chesapeake Country.