Checks went out last Friday to schools in the three towns that compromise Regional School Unit 5, courtesy of the Freeport, Pownal and Durham Education Foundation Spring Grants.

The foundation, which refers to itself as FPaD5, raised a total of $5,560 in the past year to fund nine grants for RSU 5 schools. The nonprofit foundation raises money through bottle collection bins in area campgrounds such as Winslow Park and businesses such as Holiday Inn Express, through money raised in the Freeport Half Marathon and 5K, held each autumn, and through grants.

“We’re doing everything we can to get extra money for the public schools,” said Marie Gunning of Freeport, the group’s past president and current coordinator of the grant-selection process. “It’s community-based – it’s not just the schools. We’re parents and we’re community volunteers, and we’re open to suggestions.”

The spring grants include $1,160 to support “We Got Rhythm” arts programming at Morse Street School, Pownal Elementary School and Mast Landing School; $500 to support audio books purchase for Pownal Elementary; $600 to support a fifth-grade engineering event at Mast Landing; $500 to support cyber-bullying prevention curriculum at Mast Landing; $550 to support the purchase of active seating for students (Hokki stools) at Mast Landing; $805 for the purchase of percussion instruments Durham Community School; $2,000 to support audio books purchase at Durham Community School; $1,000 for eighth-grade graduation celebration at Durham Community School; and $200 to support the purchase of supplies for ancient Egypt curriculum at Freeport Middle School.

Paul Santomenna, a board member from Freeport, said that the purpose of these grants, like all FPaD5 funding, is to enhance the academic experiences of RSU 5 students.

“We’re particularly supportive of teacher-initiated projects and requests that fall outside of the RSU 5 budget and promise to have a demonstrably positive impact on students’ desire and ability to learn,” Santomenna said.

Gunning said that foundation members tried to get going a few years ago, but withdrawal efforts in Durham and then Freeport caused uncertainty.

“We started this to support the schools,” she said. “It’s been a tough time to start a nonprofit because of the uncertainty as to what our administrative structure would look like.” The foundation appreciates everything people do to help. “As people are giving us their bottles,” Gunning said, “every nickel counts.”