In the early 1970’s WUMCO Help was still in its infancy. The seeds had been planted, but Jane (Bast) Stearns and Beulah (Clarke) Harper recognized early on that their venture would need widespread community support to get off the ground. They reached out to area churches and civic organizations to ask for assistance. Overwhelmingly, the responders saw no need for a HELP organization. However, after witnessing the need firsthand, especially in the more isolated areas, Jane and Beulah would not accept a “No” answer.
The two ladies forged on. They needed space for the donations that people were tripping over in Beulah’s modest home. Providentially, in 1971, the Stearns were building a new home in Beallsville. Fred Stearns designed it specifically to accommodate Poolesville Help’s growing needs. Eventually, the food pantry filled the Stearns’ two-car and later, three-car garage. The office was in their living room.
At the same time, Beulah continued to add new initiatives to her plate. With Fred’s assistance, Beulah co-founded a new WUMCO called Western Upper Montgomery Citizen’s Association. The new WUMCO – not to be confused with the food and ride assistance organization WUMCO Help – led the effort to establish a park for local area minority communities.
In 1975, after five years of meetings with the Maryland National Capitol Park and Planning Commission and the county, the WUMCO citizens group secured a $243,000, 20-acre recreational complex in Beallsville. Owens Park was the site of the area senior center until it was closed some years ago.
Beulah also volunteered for 10 years at the Women’s Interfaith Services, as a night manager and its President. This network of 69 churches and synagogues across the county contributed donations to a Rockville clothing center for low–income individuals.
In 1972, Fred retired from his position as the Budget Officer for the U.S. Geological Survey and devoted more time to the two WUMCO’s. Beulah’s worsening health made it difficult for her to keep up her frenetic work pace. Her doctor advised her to curtail the intensity of her activities. Nonetheless, she continued to provide food, clothing, shelter and even funds to others in need. When she passed away in 1976 at the age of 64, the last of the Harper’s seven foster children was still living with the couple.
The Stearns carried on with the mission started by Jane and Beulah. The couple stayed active in the area’s predominantly Black churches. Fred volunteered as the accountant of the (now) West Montgomery United Methodist Church near their home. Jane served as their Recording Secretary and mowed their lawn. In 1982, the Stearns received a citation for outstanding leadership by Community Ministry of Montgomery County.
WUMCO Help was formally incorporated as a 501c3 organization in 1985. The new non-profit status allowed the Stearns to apply for grants. In 2000, they were able to hire their first staff person aided by a grant from The United Way. The organization continued to grow and blossom as community organizations and churches lent support. Thanksgiving Day baskets and a Christmas Toy Drive were added to their list of services.
After Fred passed away in 2006, Jane soldiered on as WUMCO Help’s driving force. By 2008, 50 volunteers helped weekly. In 2014, more than 14,000 pounds of food were donated. (By 2020, that amount had grown to 35,000 pounds.)
WUMCO Help finally left Jane’s home in 2015 when she was 88. The organization headquarters moved to the Family Life Center across from Poolesville High School. WUMCO Help held a “Salute to Jane” to honor her decades of service.
Jane, individually, and with Fred, received several awards for service to others, particularly the Black community. In 1989, former Governor William Donald Schaefer honored Jane and Fred as two of “Maryland’s Most Beautiful”. In 2008, Jane was inducted into the Montgomery County Human Rights Hall of Fame. Jane served as the Poolesville Day Parade Grand Marshall in 2010.
Beulah, too, in her leadership roles, was recognized for her exemplary volunteerism. In 1972, former County Executive James Gleason recognized her distinguished Interfaith Women’s Service contributions. Former MD Congressman Gilbert Gude honored Beulah at a County Chamber of Commerce meeting in 1973. That same year the County Chamber saluted her work for the 1960’s Community Action Committee Food Stamp Advisory Committee.
During the extended time the Stearns ran WUMCO Help they chose to forego compensation and reimbursement for any of their associated expenses.
Before passing away in 2019, Jane expressed how she viewed her life’s work. “I was put here to do this and that’s what I have done.”
In her final hours Beulah expressed concern for the people she was helping. She was worried they wouldn’t be able to reach her and requested that they all be contacted and told why she was unable to answer them personally.
Jane and Beulah were two strong–willed individuals who never let anything, not race, not economic circumstance and not even their own illness nor the frailty of aging stop them from their mission. They, along with Fred, touched many lives through their selfless love for others. They deserve to be remembered by the communities that they served for so long.