Our History
In the late 1960’s, two dear friends, Jane Stearns and Beulah Harper, joined forces to provide food and rides to those in need in the Western Upper Montgomery County. From this humble start a small non-profit, WUMCO Help, grew. Financial assistance services were added, the pantry was housed in a large garage, and the office pre-empted the living room of the home of Jane and her husband Fred. The organization continued to grow, was incorporated and received non-profit status from the IRS. Around the turn of the century a part-time Executive Assistant was hired to assist with the increasing administrative responsibilities. In 2015 the offices and pantry were moved into Poolesville in order to be better placed to serve the community.
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Jane Stearns was a truly remarkable lady with a heart of gold! After the death
of Beulah Harper, Jane continued to serve the community and expand the
services that the organization provided. She also served as secretary of the
local NAACP chapter for 25 years and volunteered at her church. Jane never
accepted any compensation for her service as Executive Director of WUMCO,
nor did she ask for rent or reimbursement for the high electric bills that she paid
due to the WUMCO freezers and computers housed in her dwelling. For over
50 years Jane was the heart and face of WUMCO. Jane passed away on
August 12, 2019. She leaves a lasting legacy in WUMCO and we aim to continue
to serve the community with her dedication, spirit, and love.
Jane Stearns
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