Southeast Alabama Gas District is giving back to the communities it serves and the students in 19 local school systems are benefiting.

Shannon Gooden, District market/communications manager, and Mitch Thorn, District market representative, were in Brundidge recently to present at check in the amount of $14,335 to representatives from Pike County High School and Pike County Elementary School.

Gooden said the amount was based on gas usage during 2010 and represented basically 25 percent of what was billed to the school system.

“Usage was up in 2010 because of the long periods of cold weather,” Gooden said. “This check is a way that Southeast Alabama Gas District can give back to the areas that we serve. These funds may be used in any way there is a need in the schools. However, the board would like for these funds to be used in ways that will best impact the students, directly or indirectly.”

Thorn said Southeast Alabama Gas District realizes that school systems are faced with increasing financial difficulties and many of them are having to open lines of credit to make it through the school year and some school systems are in dire straights.

“There are many needs in the schools,” he said. “Some schools need to update their software; others need textbooks and workbooks. Some need assistance with gasoline to operate the school buses. There are many needs.”

A survey of teacher needs revealed that classroom supplies are in short supply.

“Teachers used to get money from the state for classroom supplies but they no longer received those funds,” Gooden said. “Teachers listed consumable classroom supplies as a great need. At Southeast Alabama Gas, we hope those funds will fill a need in all the schools. We are proud to be able to give back to the communities that we serve.”

Dr. Mike Hall, PCHS principal, and Willie Wright, PCES principal, expressed appreciation to Southeast Alabama Gas District for its generosity.

“The benefit will be to our students and we are most appreciative of the support and generosity of the Southeast Alabama Gas District,” Hall said.

Wright said that the funds will be used for the students and expressed appreciation on their behalf.