Just off bustling Valleydale Road in Hoover sits Equip, a nonprofit that serves as a community, school, and workplace for adults living with disabilities. Headquartered behind Valleydale Church, Equip blends naturally into the surrounding neighborhood.

“In 2018, Equip was founded with a driving vision: to ensure that individuals living with disabilities have a clear, supported path toward a meaningful life,” says Blake Huynh, Equip’s Executive Director. “We believed then—and see every day now—that with the right vocational, life, and social skills, all people can experience fulfillment, purpose, and success.”

Participants at Equip range in age from 16 to over 65 years old, and a typical day in the program begins at 9 a.m. and concludes at 4 p.m. Activities include Bible study, job skills training, visits to places in the surrounding community such as the library or fire department, exercise and movement, and lessons focused on essential life skills.

The Lessons That Started It All

Those life-skills lessons are, in many ways, how Equip first began. Before launching the program, Huynh taught similar lessons to students with special needs in Shelby County Schools.

Many recurring themes focused on the importance of attitude—some inspired by speeches from legendary football coach and College GameDay host Nick Saban. Other lessons addressed the impact of cell phone use and social media on future careers, along with strategies for resolving conflict with coworkers, supervisors, and family members.

The lessons were so well received that Huynh realized he had discovered something meaningful. Combined with a strong desire to expand his reach and serve more students, the idea for Equip was born.

Exceptional Baits: Professional Fishing Lures Made by Exceptional People

During a recent visit to Equip’s headquarters, I was greeted in the parking lot by three program participants working in what looked like a full chemistry lab setup. The workspace was impressive, complete with temperature-controlled vats of melted material, microwaves, proper protective equipment, and molds used to transform 350-degree liquid into high-quality fishing lures.

The finished products were striking. The lures looked as good as—if not better than—many found on the shelves of Bass Pro Shops.

Production of these handmade lures is managed by some of the program’s most experienced participants. Workers earn a minimum of $10 per hour regardless of production level, and some participants work as many as 15 hours each week crafting lures.

One goal for the near future is to see Exceptional Baits products stocked on the shelves of a local fishing and hunting store.

A Business Built Around Ability

The origin of the lure business is both simple and deeply meaningful.

One of the program’s participants, Andrew, struggled to maintain steady employment. Frequent turnover and workplace challenges meant he often moved from job to job, sometimes lasting less than a day. At one point, the stress of employment limited him to working only about 15 minutes per week.

Huynh approached Andrew with an idea: what if they created a business designed specifically for participants like him—one where the profits and benefits would go directly back to the employees?

Andrew embraced the idea. They chose fishing lure production instead of more common nonprofit products such as baked goods or candy. Lures have a much longer shelf life, and the production process is more forgiving than baking, where one mistake can ruin an entire batch.

The results have been remarkable. Since the launch of Exceptional Baits, Andrew’s weekly work output has grown from 15 minutes to 15 hours.

 

A Tournament That Fuels the Mission

To help support the workplace, Exceptional Baits will host the Exceptional Baits Third Annual Fishing Tournament, presented by Alabama Power, on May 16 at Beeswax Landing on Lay Lake.

Participation has grown dramatically. The first tournament featured just 20 boats, while the second attracted 55—and organizers hope for even greater participation this year.

The tournament is open to anyone who wants to participate, with prizes ranging from $500 to $2,500 across several categories.

The continued success of Exceptional Baits depends on the support of the community and events like this tournament. Readers interested in supporting the mission are encouraged to participate or share the opportunity with the fishing enthusiast in their life.

To learn more about Equip and Exceptional Baits, visit their website here.

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