North Baldwin Community Foundation recently presented grants totaling $15,000 to area agencies and nonprofits that benefit healthy lifestyles and education for area youth and residents.

Bay Minette Recreation Department received money to purchase basketball goal extenders and additional safety wall padding for the gymnasium at the Douglasville School for Arts & Recreation. The North Baldwin Community Foundation is an affiliate of the Community Foundation of South Alabama.

"This will help support our youth basketball program by allowing us to offer younger age divisions and safer playing conditions in the gym," said Blake Clark, recreation director.

This marks the third year for the Foundation to support recreational programs in Bay Minette. Previous grants have helped to purchase soccer goals and equipment for the flag football league.

"Last year, the Foundation was generous enough to provide funding to jumpstart our flag football program, and our program doubled in size this year because of it," Clark said. "The Rec Department strives to offer our community programs they can enjoy and we could not do it without the support from the North Baldwin Community Foundation."

Another grant will help those waiting on the BRATS bus or for someone else at the Bay Minette Public Library do so in comfort on a new book bench.

The fiberglass book bench will be painted with a "Magic School Bus" theme and will be placed near the entrance of the library, which also doubles as a pick-up spot for the public transportation bus.

This installment will join the other functional works of art added to the library courtyard. Earlier this year, the library unveiled two fiberglass book benches painted by local artists. Nancy Self used the book "Where the Sidewalk Ends" as the inspiration for one bench. Artist Nancy Dean was inspired by the Dolly Parton Imagination Library for her design.

Library Director Joanna Bailey said the project serves a purpose while also being aesthetically pleasing.

"Patrons will be able to be out in front of the library to see when someone arrives to take them home. This is especially important for BRATS bus riders as the bus is on a tight schedule and will not wait long," she said. "This project will enrich the lives and living environment by adding a bit of art and whimsy with this book bench. A child may see the bench and then be inspired to check-out the books that inspire the artwork."

Bailey said she also hopes to see the book bench project grow to include more in the near future. Donations are always accepted for this and other library programs. Call (251) 580-1648 for more information on this or other library projects.

In addition to the Rec Department and library, fellow grant recipients included Alabama Free Clinic Inc., North Baldwin Coalition for Excellence in Education, North Baldwin Ecumenical Association LLC, North Baldwin Infirmary Foundation, North Baldwin Literacy Council, Prodisee Pantry, The Chosen Youth Outreach, United Way of Baldwin County Inc. and Volunteers of America-Light of the City.