Representatives of five local groups stepped out of Priority Business Center and into spitting snow and the holiday season this week with freshly drafted checks in hand.

Priority Real Estate Group invited the groups to its Main Street business center Monday to give them donations that together totaled $25,000.

Jim Howard, president and CEO, told a room full of soonto be giftees that “every time we build a building, we budget $5,000 to $10,000 of the construction costs as a donation budget to give back to the community.”

This year, the company finished

Rusty’s Market on Middlesex Road and has buildings under construction for Coastal Orthopedic in Brunswick and Panera Bread at Topsham Fair Mall.

“Usually we give the money out after the project is finished, but because of the holidays we wanted to give it out early this year,” Howard said. “The staff here at Priority (Real Estate) Group works pretty hard putting up all of these buildings so that we can get this money out.”

Howard received an ovation from awardees who attended Monday’s ceremony. “We appreciate all the works that you guys do,” he told them.

Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program received $7,000; People Plus Teen Center received $5,000; the town of Topsham received $7,000 for its heating assistance program from Priority and Rusty’s Market; the Mt. Ararat High School girls’ hockey team received $1,000 from Priority and Rusty’s Market; and the Cathance River Education Alliance received $5,000.

Karen Parker, executive director for Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program, said: “We have a 10 percent increase in the number of meals in 2012 and we’re going to serve over 35,000 meals out of our facility. So this will help fund the need we have for the food items to meet the increased demand.”

dmoore@timesrecord.com