Who We Are

Our Mission, Vision and Values

With a vision of “thriving, hunger-free homes,” Person to Person supports families and individuals as they move toward stability with healthy food, clothing, housing assistance, and a path to economic opportunity. We commit ourselves to the following values:

COMMUNITY As a community-supported and volunteer-driven organization, we honor the contributions of all and believe all have the ability to contribute.

DIGNITY & RESPECT We recognize and honor the unique experiences of those who seek our assistance as well as those who volunteer to assist. We treat everyone who walks through our doors with dignity and respect.

QUALITY, INTEGRITY AND STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE We are honest, fair, accountable, and ethical. We are committed to what we do, and we do it to the best of our ability.

History

Following the assassination of The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on April 4, 1968, the rector of Saint Luke’s Parish in Darien, Connecticut – The Rev. Dr. Robert Nelson Back, who had attended seminary with Dr. King – organized a small group of parishioners to discuss ways to respond to the assassination. In a letter dated April 18, 1968, Dr. Back announced the formation of Person-to-Person with the following words:

“Dr. King was a scholar. He could easily have risen in eminence as a theologian and receive much praise and few, if any, insults. But he chose to throw in his lot with the poor – black and white – and was shot while pleading the cause of garbage collectors. Few of us have the courage to choose such a path…” He called upon the people of St. Luke’s Parish to work “in the direction of people, persons in need and not toward a faceless mass.” Mrs. Jean Sherman was appointed as the first Director.

P2P started by providing college scholarships and summer camperships. Then a small food and clothing closet was established and grew over the years to four full-time food pantries and a Clothing Center offering over 50,000 shopping bags of clothing each year. In 1975, we established the annual Toy Store for holiday gifts. Opus 4 Person to Person, an all-women’s membership organization dedicated to raising awareness and funds for P2P, was founded in 1996 and, since then, has raised more than $6M to support P2P’s mission and programs.

Who We Serve

P2P supports more than 25,500 neighbors across lower Fairfield County, primarily in Darien, New Canaan, Norwalk, Stamford, Weston, Westport, and Wilton. Food assistance is available to anyone in Connecticut who needs it.

Every person who turns to P2P has a unique story. Some are facing an unexpected financial setback. Others are parents working hard to provide for their families or older adults living on limited incomes. Whatever brings someone to P2P, they are welcomed with compassion, dignity, and respect. We are here to help, without judgment.

Our Impact

Our Commitment to Equity and Inclusion

Person to Person is committed to creating a safe, welcoming environment where people of all social, economic, and cultural backgrounds are respected and valued. We honor the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by advancing inclusion and equitable access to opportunity within our organization and the communities we serve. We value the perspectives of our clients, volunteers, staff, and partners as we strive for excellence in serving our mission.

P2P welcomes everyone, regardless of religion, national origin, race, ethnicity, color, sexual orientation, gender identity, ability, veteran status, age, or language. We invite our community to join us in building an equitable, inclusive, and welcoming P2P.

Meet the Team

P2P Leadership

Nancy Coughlin, Chief Executive Officer

Nancy joined P2P in June 2019, bringing extensive experience in food insecurity, anti-poverty work, and issues affecting women and children. Before joining P2P, she served for seven years as Executive Director of Neighbor to Neighbor, a Greenwich-based nonprofit providing food and clothing assistance to low-income families. Earlier in her career, Nancy practiced employment litigation at Baker McKenzie in New York City. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of New Hampshire and a Juris Doctor from Suffolk University Law School.

Paula Barker, Chief Marketing Officer

Paula joined P2P in 2026, bringing more than 20 years of experience developing strategic communications that engage audiences and inspire action. She leads P2P’s brand, marketing, public relations, and digital communications. Before joining P2P, Paula held marketing leadership roles at Kids In Crisis and Horizons at Sacred Heart University. Earlier in her career, she developed national campaigns for leading consumer brands, including Unilever, Coca-Cola, Frito-Lay, Campbell’s, ABC Television, Nestlé Waters, and Pepperidge Farm. Paula holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Hartford and is proud to apply her creative experience to advancing P2P’s mission and community impact.

Greg Dobbs, Senior Site Director/Stamford Site and Food Manager

Greg oversees P2P’s four food pantries and Clothing Center while also managing the Stamford site. His responsibilities include food procurement, inventory management, cost and quality control, volunteer training, food drives, and collaboration with community partners. Before joining P2P, Greg served as Office Services and Facilities Manager at Cowen & Co. in Stamford, where he managed purchasing, vendor expenses, equipment leases, print production, and shipping and receiving. Greg holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Welfare from Valparaiso University, where he played varsity basketball. He also served his community by coaching boys’ high school varsity basketball for 29 years.

Lauren Franciamore, Chief Programs Officer

Lauren Franciamore, LCSW, oversees P2P’s Financial Opportunity Center, Scholarship, Campership, and Emergency Assistance programs. She supervises the casework team, leads program implementation, and works with counselors in Stamford Public Schools to connect children with Campership opportunities. Lauren joined P2P in 2017 after spending 10 years at Community Centers, Inc. in Greenwich, first as a social worker and later as Executive Director. She is SIFI-certified and holds a Master of Social Work from New York University and a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from Sacred Heart University, where she graduated magna cum laude.

Juri Garone, Chief Community Relations Officer

Juri joined P2P in September 2019 and leads the organization’s volunteer program and community relationships. She previously oversaw P2P’s food and clothing programs. Before joining P2P, Juri spent seven years in the Library Learning Commons at Weston High School and co-chaired the Weston Domestic Violence Task Force, advocating for local survivors and raising funds for the Domestic Violence Crisis Center. Earlier in her career, she spent a decade in broadcast journalism as an Emmy Award-winning television news anchor and reporter in Westchester County, New York, and Bergen County, New Jersey.

Corey Paris, Chief Philanthropy Officer and Strategy Officer 

Corey leads P2P’s philanthropy and organizational strategy. Before joining P2P, he served as Chief Development Officer for the Children’s Learning Centers of Fairfield County, Connecticut’s second-largest center-based early childhood education organization, where he helped secure record levels of philanthropic support. Corey also serves as State Representative for Stamford’s 145th House District and Vice Chair of the City of Stamford Mayor’s Multicultural Council. His board service includes the Association of Fundraising Professionals of Fairfield County, the Stamford Partnership, and Ferguson Library. Corey attended Johnson County Community College and earned a degree in political science from Western Connecticut State University.

Debra Ritchie, Chief Operating Officer

Debra joined P2P as Interim Chief Operating Officer in December 2022 and accepted the position permanently in April 2023. She oversees P2P’s financial and site operations and supervises the Finance Associate. Debra earned a degree in finance from Villanova University and spent nearly a decade in corporate banking, covering media and telecommunications companies. She later served as an elected official in Darien for 12 years, including four years on the Darien Board of Education. Her extensive community service includes roles with the Darien Nature Center, The Community Fund, Council of Darien School Parents, Darien Youth Commission, Darien/Norwalk YMCA, and St. Thomas More Parish.

---

Staff

DEVELOPMENT AND MARKETING DEPARTMENT

Darien Site Staff

Norwalk Site Staff

Stamford Site Staff

PROGRAMS DEPARTMENT

---

Board 2026 – 2027

Directors Emeriti

In Memoriam

Financials

P2P offers services to people with limited resources to help them meet the challenges of daily life. We are able to do so because we have the support of individuals, businesses, community organizations, schools, congregations, and foundations, and we leverage every financial and in-kind donation to reach over 25,500 people annually. For every $1 donated, P2P provides $5 worth of food.

You can see our most recent annual reports and financial statements below.

Audited Financial Statements

• 2025 FY
• 2024 FY
• 2023 FY
• 2022 FY

IRS 990 Statements

• 2025
• 2024
• 2023
• 2022

Annual Report