FLUSHING — Churches, fire departments and community organizations across the Ohio Valley are heating up the fryers for a big Ash Wednesday kickoff to the Lenten fish fry season.

Lent is a 40-day season of prayer, fasting and almsgiving that begins today, Ash Wednesday, and ends at sundown on Holy Thursday, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Lent includes a tradition of abstaining from eating meat on Fridays and the practice of self-discipline in other ways in preparation to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter.

The Flushing Volunteer Fire Department typically goes through 100 pounds of Coleman’s Atlantic cod at its fish fry each Friday during Lent. Capt. Lori Mann, who has been working at the Flushing fish fry for a decade, said her favorite part of the event is seeing so many people in the community get together and eat under the same roof.

The Wolfhurst Fire Department in Bridgeport ordered 200 pounds of Coleman’s fish for Ash Wednesday alone, and it typically goes through over 100 pounds of fish each Friday during Lent, according to Assistant Fire Chief Kevin Roberts.

The annual frys are a time for local residents to relax, eat and spend time together.

“It’s a chance for us to interact with the community without any emergency type of situation,” Roberts said.

Right down the road in Bridgeport, Masonic Blue Lodge 181 is having its annual fish fry starting today for Ash Wednesday, and the events will be held every Friday through Lent from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Canadian white fish, macaroni and cheese, coleslaw, french fries and onion rings will be served at the lodge at 502 S. Lincoln St., Bridgeport.

In Martins Ferry, the Knights of Columbus will hold a Lenten fish fry at the council home, 25 N. Fourth St., beginning Friday and continuing each Friday of Lent. Hours will be from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. or until the fish is sold out. Eat-in or takeout orders are available. There is no fish fry today for Ash Wednesday. The menu includes Coleman’s fish, onion rings, french fries, cole slaw, pop, water or tea.

Across the Ohio River, St. Jude Catholic Church in Glen Dale is participating in fish fry season as well. Office Manager Barb Klos has been overseeing its fish fry for six years. She said her favorite part of the church’s biggest annual event is the customers and volunteers who return year after year.

“The customers, they’re a lot of fun, and the people I work with, they’re excellent workers,” she said. “We have a good crew that does our fish fry.”

St. Jude kicks off fish fry season today and will host the events every Friday, excluding Good Friday on April 18, until the end of Lent.

Like many of these local events, St. Jude uses fish from Coleman’s Fish Market in Centre Market. Coleman’s sells somewhere around 50,000-60,000 pounds of fresh fish to local churches and organizations during a typical Lenten season, owner Joe Coleman said.

“Like every year, this week we’re struggling. It’s difficult to get it all done, but we’re blessed to be having the business,” he said.

Despite the chaos of preparing tens of thousands of pounds of fish, he said the market and its staff are honored to be able to provide for the local community.

“Throughout the whole country different communities have their favorites, and we’re very fortunate to be one for the Ohio Valley here,” he said.

Coleman noted that while many local fish frys use the same Coleman’s white fish, each organization has their own unique twist on the classic dish.

“You go to each one, and they have a different version of how they do it themselves. They put their own personal touch into how things are prepared and what they do on their menus,” he said.

St. Michael Parish is returning to a full season of in-person service of the classic Coleman’s fish for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, when it started offering a drive-through fish fry instead.

“It was the times we were in unfortunately, but we are very happy to be able to open our doors again to have people in together,” fish fry committee member Steve Pryzbysz said.

When organizers saw that in-person services drew large turnouts again at the end of last year’s Lenten season, they decided to bring them back this year while keeping the drive through for those who might not have time to sit down and eat.

Volunteers have spent the past month or so going over their numbers from last year, ordering supplies and setting up.