Southport church offers to host before-and after-school programs after city suspends service

SOUTHPORT, NC (WWAY) — Dozens of families in Southport have been left scrambling to find alternative before and after school programs, following the news that the city had suspended its own programs back on Wednesday.

However, Trinity United Methodist Church is looking to step in and help.

After the news broke, church members came together to see what they could do.

Lead pastor Mitzi Johnson said they have reached out to the city to take in the kids of 30 or so families who used the city’s programs, with some of those families being part of the church.

The church already has its own after-school program, held on Wednesdays, and rents out its children’s ministry space to an area school for use.

Johnson said she hopes other people and groups get involved to help care for the kids.

“Our hope is also to invite other churches in Southport to come alongside of us and share the responsibility for all of us really, to gather together as a community around these poor families and just to give them, their kids a safe place to, to continue thriving after school,” Johnson said.

Johnson added that the church has not yet heard back from the city about their offer, but hopes to have this up and running by next Monday, if they get approval.