The Valley Grande Council is diving into the season of giving as they plan to award donations to three local schools.

The council made a unanimous decision Monday to donate $6,000 to Valley Grande Elementary, Dallas County High and Martin Middle School, totaling $18,000. The schools can spend the money as they see best, according to Valley Grande Mayor Wayne Labbe.

Council members Donna Downs and Kenneth Martin were absent from the meeting this week.

“Our schools are in need because a lot of times federal government cuts its assistance back,” Labbe said. “One reason that we donate to them is because they need assistance.”

Donations are awarded to the same schools annually. It was incorporated into the city’s 2015 fiscal year budget, which was approved in September.

The council chose to give to Valley Grande and Martin Middle, because it’s within the city limits, and although Dallas County High isn’t in Valley Grande, the council considers it a part of its area school chain, Labbe said.

While the schools aren’t restriced on how they spends the donations, each school typically uses the money to fund repairs, renovations and other necessary improvements.

Valley Grande Elementary and Martin Middle School used a portion of their share to pave a new parking lot at Valley Grande Elementary, Labbe said. Before the project was completed, traffic would build up outside of the school as early as 2:15 p.m. as parents arrived to pick up children.

Some drivers would even park in the roads, which made it difficult for the students to get home in a timely manner.

The council presented $5,000 to the same schools in 2013, but inflation influenced the council’s decision to give $1,000 more this year.

The council announced Monday its plans to invite representatives of each school to the next regularly scheduled meeting, which will be held at the Valley Grande City Hall Dec. 15 at 6 p.m. At that time, they will present each school with its check.