In today’s paper, readers will find stories about people in their community who have been diligently — often courageously — serving others these past few months.

Most of these people haven’t engaged in extraordinary feats, but rather gone about their daily schedule. They’ve merely been doing their jobs.

But in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, doing so comes at great risk.

Today’s Blue Edition — a Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association initiative — recognizes those considered essential workers during this crisis.

This includes everyone from those who keep us safe — firefighters, EMS and police officers – to people responsible for Butler County residents having food on the table — grocery store employees and farmers.

In our section, we profile people on the front line of COVID-19, such as hospital staff, but also those dealing with the public every day — including bus drivers.

One of our profiles is of Pat Kelly, a paramedic and crew chief with Mars’ Quality EMS. The 66-year-old paramedic — whose age puts her in a high-risk category — said her family and friends were concerned about her working during the pandemic.

“It was important to me to help people who give back to the community where I live — I have a lot of family and friends in the service area and I wanted to help them,” she said.

In another story, readers will meet Gary Brill, a Butler Transit Authority bus driver who decided to continue working despite the dangers involved.

“There’s a lot of people (who) had to get to work, and if I wasn’t there driving they would have to get there another way,” he said.

Upon realizing that some riders couldn’t afford or find available masks, he began carrying some with him to hand out for free.

And Rick Douglas, a member of Butler Memorial Hospital’s environmental services department, told the Eagle he has safeguarded against contamination for years.

Douglas — who picks up everything from dirty linen and trash to biohazard waste — works daily in a building that is the county’s COVID-19 epicenter, although he said less trash is being produced there during the pandemic.

There are many others profiled in our Blue Edition who have been doing their jobs amid a dangerous outbreak, while others are more safely sheltering at home.

We thank our county’s essential workers — without whose efforts and bravery many necessary and life-saving services would not be available during this extraordinary time in our nation’s history.