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Boys & Girls Clubs of Johnston County asks commissioners to include funding in 2026–27 budget
Summary
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Johnston County asked the Board to include the clubs in the 2026–27 county budget, describing services for roughly 250 youth and partnerships with employers and schools.
Kelly Blanchard, director of resource and development for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Johnston County, asked the Board of Commissioners on May 5 to include the clubs in the county's 2026–27 budget.
Blanchard said the organization operates community- and school-based programs in Selma and Smithfield and serves "approximately 250 ages 6 to 16," offering after-school care, summer programs and tutoring. She told commissioners 99 percent of participants qualify for free and reduced-price lunch and noted a county figure of 407 youth identified by Johnston County Public Schools as homeless.
Blanchard outlined programs aimed at academic support, healthy lifestyles (including swimming instruction), STEM and robotics, and youth resilience programming that addresses substance misuse and emotional wellness. She cited a national study claiming a $10.32 economic return for every $1 invested in Boys & Girls Clubs and said local employers such as Novo Nordisk and Amazon partner with the clubs on workforce development efforts.
Blanchard asked commissioners to support the clubs in the upcoming county budget cycle; commissioners thanked her and asked no questions at the May 5 meeting. The clubs said they will follow up with additional information and highlighted partnerships with schools and employers as part of their funding rationale.
