Local schools, community groups and others received donations this week in advance of the holiday season.

The Loyal Order of the Moose Lodge 701, based in Ironton, distributed checks on Wednesday to dozens of recipients, eight of whom were on hand to collect the checks in person.

“We’ve been doing this since about 2005 or 2006,” Jerry Walker, the administrator for the Moose, said. “It’s 25 percent of our gaming money every year. We take a lump sum and give it out. We’ve been doing it ever since the state of Ohio took over gaming.

Recipients of donations were the Boy Scouts of America, Ironton City Welfare Mission, Coal Grove Little League, Community Hospice, Inc. Dawson-Bryant Schools, Fairland Local Schools, Fraternal Order of Police 75, Green Local Schools, Ironton Firefighters Local 532, Ironton Little league, Ironton Youth Football, Lawrence County Domestic Violence, Lawrence County Human Society, Lawrence County JVS, the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, Mended Reeds, Inc., Ohio State Moose Association, Rock Hill Local Schools, St. Jude Children’s Hospital, South Point Local Schools, Symmes Valley Local Schools, Tools 4 School and the Coal Grove Police Department.