On Wednesday, demolition crews began the process of tearing down the former My Kid’s Club facility at 609 N. Pollock Street in Selma. For more than half a century, the former school building has been a center of community activities, including teaching agricultural and auto mechanics after World War II, serving as a band room and later as an eighth grade classroom.
During the most recent construction of Selma Elementary School it was known as the “Yellow Jacket Café.” For the last 16 years it was home to the Johnson County Boys & Girls Club, now called My Kid’s Club.
The building was badly damaged by Hurricane Matthew in 2016 and engineers determined it could no longer be safely occupied.
My Kid’s Club Executive Director Alison Gammage and the Historical Society worked together to ensure that the building’s significance and history is preserved. “This building has always been linked to empowering the youth of Johnston County, and we are sad to see it go,” said Gammage. “We have treasured the opportunity to launch and operate this program that means so much to so many within these historic walls, but we are excited about continuing our mission to help local youth realize their potential in a new space better suited to kids’ needs.”
My Kid’s Club has already begun planning a new building to provide a ‘state of the art’ space to continue programs for children and the surrounding community. “The children of Johnston County deserve a top-notch place to learn and play, and we couldn’t be more excited at seeing this project come to life and building more opportunities and experiences for kids across the County.” said Gammage.
About My Kid’s Club
My Kid’s Club launched in January 2019 to assume all responsibilities of the Boys & Girls Club of Wayne/Johnston County. The mission of My Kid’s Club is to encourage and empower youth to grow in character and understanding through studies and opportunities for academic success, civic engagement, and habits that underscore healthy living to achieve their potential as responsible and caring citizens.
Currently, My Kid’s Club is operating on the campus of Selma Elementary with Summer Camps in Selma all summer, Benson now through June 28, and at South Smithfield Elementary July 8 – 19.
