3 minute read
My Kid’s Club celebrates groundbreaking
from March 2023
by Johnston Now
Submitted by MY KID’S CLUB
SELMA — My Kid’s Club, a Johnston County non-profit providing services for local youth, held a ceremony recently to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new My Kid’s Club SECU Community Clubhouse at 609 N. Pollock Street.
The organization lost its home to Hurricane Matthew in 2016 and completed a $3 million capital campaign dating back to early 2020. MKC has been running the club from a local elementary school campus since the previous facility was destroyed.
MKC’s new 5,000-square foot building will be sited on its original property, adjacent to Selma Elementary School. The facility will enable MKC to expand its capacity for countywide youth participation, serve as a central hub of operations for club activities and support virtual learning and satellite programming at several other site locations.
“We cannot thank My Kid’s Club enough, the sponsors that you see here that have brought this all together for our Selma community, our Johnston County community, our North Carolina community and the community all over to educate our youth and build our future,” said Selma Mayor Byron McAllister.
“This project is a testament to our community’s commitment to providing our young people with the resources and opportunities they need to grow and thrive. I would especially like to thank Leo Daughtry. He continues to lead by example through his continued service to Johnston County,“ said N.C. Rep. Larry Strickland. “I look forward to seeing the smiles on the faces of the children as they will finally have a club to call their own.”
“There is so much power in the school systems and communities when we work together,” said Dr. Eric C. Bracy, superintendent of Johnston County Public Schools. “These children are our why and the reason we get up every day. Selma has some amazing things happening and this is one of them. Johnston County Public Schools supports this organization in all ways and we are excited for the future.”
“SECU provided My Kid’s Club with a $500,000 challenge grant to build a new, much larger facility,” said Bob Brinson, board chair of the SECU Foundation. “My Kid’s Club accepted our challenge and with the help of many, they are a shining example of what can be accomplished when people come together to benefit the community. We are excited to be part of today’s groundbreaking and celebrating success.”
Additional speakers at the event included My Kid’s Club Board President William White, Pastor Todd Daniels of Selma Baptist Church, North Carolina State Director of USDA Rural Development Reginald Speight and Austin Barnhill of Barnhill Contracting Company.
After-school programs and summer camps provided by My Kid’s Club lay the foundation for youth to grow through opportunities for academic success with an emphasis on the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics fields of study, civic engagement and promoting healthy living habits to achieve their potential as responsible and caring citizens.