Jean Harland

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Jean Harland

Jean Harland has lived on the 600 block of Sedgwick Street for forty-five years and loves it. “The houses are nice and the trees are nice. But it is the people that make the block so wonderful.” Her neighbors will tell you that Jean contributes much more than her share to the neighborly feeling on the street. When people come and go, Jean, together with her friend, Flora Lisi, hosts hello and goodbye parties. She has a gathering for her block once a year. And for many years she organized a carol sing during the holidays. When people need help to deal with a medical or family crisis, Jean is among the first to volunteer. And Jean is there for the long term. Jean drove a neighbor to and from church for years and still visits her regularly.

Jean’s efforts to help her neighbors go beyond Sedgwick Street and even beyond Mt. Airy itself. She is secretary of the Mt. Airy Senior Support Group. She regularly records books for the blind. And she is very active in her church, for which she worked in various roles including serving homeless people when they stay there.

In addition to all her other activities, Jean is very busy at the Stagecrafters Theatre where she acts, directs, writes the newsletter and is a member of the board of directors, the production committee, the casting committee and the play selection committee and where her lovely voice can be heard on the answering machine. About Stagecrafters Jean says, “That is my fun thing in life. Other stuff I do because I feel that I am real lucky to be as old as I am and I can still drive. If I can do something to be of help to other people, I try to do it.”