As the calendar pushes past Christmas Day and toward the New Year, it gives us time to reflect on the Ohio Valley’s 2025. And what a year it was.

During the last 12 months, we saw plenty of tough times. But through those times, we saw shining examples of kindness and community. That was no more evident than in the devastating flash floods in Ohio County.

Nine lives were lost, along with dozens of homes. Families were forced to rebuild almost, if not entirely, from scratch. And many of those families struggled to find the means to do so.

Yet, in the days, weeks and months that came after, this valley saw its residents from both sides of the Ohio River rally to those victims’ aid. They held fundraisers. They gathered supplies. They cooked and served food.

They also mucked out basements and helped install wiring. They offered not just labor, but comfort, a listening ear or a shoulder to lean on.

But that’s the Ohio Valley and its people. That’s how it has been since the turn of last century — good people who work toward making their communities better and their neighbors whole, simply because it’s the right thing to do. It’s one of the great beauties of living here.

And as the calendar turns to 2026, everybody should keep that spirit alive.

There will be rough days in the new year. People will struggle. Some are struggling now. There are people hanging onto their homes, wondering how they’ll pay next month’s rent. There are people without homes now. There are those throughout the valley who face challenges both physically and emotionally.

It’s up to us to make sure those with hills to climb have a steadying force behind them.

If you’re looking for inspiration, take some from the residents of Valley Grove and Triadelphia, the two communities hardest hit by June’s floods. Residents from both communities have been assisting each other since the floodwaters receded. Neighbors were out with their own heavy equipment in the days right after the floods, helping clear rubble and making sure roads were passable.

And as organizations like FEMA came to assist, those folks often told them that they were fine, that their neighbors needed to be taken care of first, even though everyone was able to be helped.

Ohio County Family Resource Network Executive Director Claudia McKay saw that spirit last week when her organization sponsored at get-together in Valley Grove for flood victims to gather and talk.

“There’s just no hesitation from either community in helping whenever there’s a need for it,” she said. “The closeness of this community just continues to shine through time and time again.”

If these folks can take the time to help others during some of their darkest hours, we can follow their lead. But that shouldn’t be a problem.

The people of the Ohio Valley long have been a community that looks out for each other. It’s what makes this a great place to live — and it can get even better by watching out for our fellow man. Let us all continue on that path in 2026.