Boys & Girls Club To Launch Expanded Programs At Sarah Yard Community Center

SMITHFIELD, N.C. — The Smithfield Town Council voted unanimously to allow the Boys & Girls Club of Johnston County to use the Sarah Yard Community Center for after-school and summer programs.

Under a memorandum of understanding approved March 17, the club will operate from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday during the school year and from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. throughout the summer. The program is expected to serve 50 to 60 children daily.

The Boys & Girls Club currently operates a program at South Smithfield Elementary School, which is limited to that school’s students. The move to Sarah Yard will open participation to elementary and middle school students from across Smithfield.

Interim Town Manager Kimberly Pickett said the center has been “underutilized by the town and parks and recreation,” and the club’s use will maximize the facility’s potential.

The club will provide all staffing, management, and a dedicated site supervisor, maintain a 20-to-1 child-to-staff ratio, ensure a safe and clean environment, and repair or replace any damaged equipment.

For the first year, the town will cover 100% of utility costs. In the second year, the club will pay half of the utilities, not to exceed $400. The town will continue to handle maintenance, while the club assumes legal liability for participants and carries at least $1 million in general liability insurance with a $3 million umbrella policy.

Councilman Dr. Gettys Cohen, representing the district where the center is located, made the motion to approve the agreement, which was seconded by Council Member Doris Wallace.

The Boys & Girls Club plans to begin using the facility on Aug. 15, 2026, aligning with its mission to inspire and enable young people to reach their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible citizens.