MARTINS FERRY — Many of our Ohio Valley neighbors do important, good work behind the scenes — they clean up trash, ready ball fields for spring and summertime play, build playgrounds, take care of veterans and give scholarships to seniors preparing to graduate.

Their work is immeasurable and often only is noticed when it stops. Most Ohio Valley residents likely will recognize their names — the Lions, Legion, Civics, VFW, chambers of commerce and more.

In Martins Ferry, several local groups spend countless hours improving the community and helping its residents. For example, during the past few years the Martins Ferry Lions Club has spent its fundraising money on projects such as installing brand new playground equipment at City Park. The equipment is used often by children and families from the Purple City and beyond.

The Lions also recently installed a new Veterans Wall at the park, which pays respect to veterans from all branches of the military. The wall includes insignias from the military branches and flags as well.

The Martins Ferry Civics also annually maintains the city’s ball fields so local children can play on well-kept surfaces during the spring and summer seasons. During past weekends, Civics members could be seen working to clean up old leaves and trash around the fields, in addition to working the soil on the infield surface and repairing sections of fencing.

Tom Regis, a Martins Ferry Civics member, said the group organizes baseball, softball and basketball teams for children 4-14 years old. And new this year was a basketball league for kids in fifth and sixth grades. The baseball and softball teams have about 370 children participating, while the basketball league has about 130 children.

“It’s a year-round process. … The only months we get off are August and September. … We have to have an avenue for kids to participate, activities that keep them off the streets,” said Regis, noting such team play helps turn children into successful adults.

Regis noted this weekend the Civics is organizing a large Pinto Baseball Tournament with 160 children playing ball at Martins Ferry, Union Local and Shadyside. He added that about 90 adults help make the Civics run.

The Ohio River Valley Elks Lodge 231 of Martins Ferry annually holds a free, homemade dinner for all local veterans. And this past Christmas, the Elks teamed up with Boscov’s at the Ohio Valley Mall to place the names of veterans who are confined to nursing homes on the Giving Tree. Local residents shopping at the mall responded to the veterans’ needs by purchasing gifts for those veterans living in Country Club Retirement Campus in Bellaire, Heartland Nursing Home in Lansing, Shadyside Care Center, Forest Hill in St. Clairsville and Martins Ferry Continuous Care. The program’s chairman, Tom Cusick, and his wife, Peggy, took care of getting the names to Boscov’s, where Lisa Kindler, Boscov’s spokeswoman, put them on the tree. Boscov’s also wrapped all the presents.

In Bellaire, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 626 annually gives scholarships to local students who win during an Americanism essay contest. Last year, the VFW gave $500 scholarships; this year the amount has increased to $1,000 apiece.

This year’s winners include Bellaire High School student Brennon Conroy, St. John Central High student Taylor Lowe, Bridgeport High student Sydney Kloss, Shadyside High student Kelsey Hendershot and Martins Ferry High student Sophia Koucoumaris. Conroy also received an additional $1,000 from Post 626 member James Janeda of Shadyside in memory of Janeda’s brother, Steve Janeda. Steve Janeda, born Aug. 6, 1949, was killed in action May 25, 1970, in Pleiku, Vietnam. He was part of Unit 43 Signal Battalion, 1st Signal Brigade.

In St. Clairsville, the American Legion Post 159 hosts free meals for veterans. For example, the post holds free pancake breakfasts for veterans at Post 159, located at 800 Legion Road. Veterans’ guests can eat for just $3.

The Martins Ferry Chamber of Commerce puts on an annual Academic Recognition Banquet for students in fifth through 12th grades who live in the city school district and achieve certain grade point averages. It includes a catered dinner and ceremony held at WesBanco Arena in Wheeling. The affair, slated this year on May 2, typically costs $10,000 to put on. The chamber solicits donations from businesses and individuals and conducts fundraisers to cover the cost of the event.