Downeast Mortgage Corp. celebrated the 2006 holiday season by giving to others.

The South Portland-based firm, with offices in Maine and New Hampshire, opted to forgo its annual holiday party and instead presented checks to nonprofit organizations in communities throughout the two states.

Employees of Downeast Mortgage and its affiliates, Homeowners Assistance Corp., and Integrity One, distributed some $5,000 for charities, which in Maine included:

Good Shepherd Food Bank, Auburn; Salvation Army Angel Tree, Bangor; Toys for Tots, Topsham; Sanford Regional Vocational Center’s Annual Special Needs Christmas Program; Windham Human Services Committee; Camp Sunshine, Casco.