Person-to-Person History In 1967, two St. Luke’s parishioners, William and Jean Sherman, who had recently moved to Darien from New Jersey, approached then rector of Saint Luke’s Parish in Darien, Connecticut, Dr. Robert N. Back, with the idea of finding a way as a group to navigate and have a positive influence on the challenges the 1960's were presenting. Their former church had established a similar program, which had been successful, and they were anxious to continue the work of addressing issues that seemed to be escalating. “Person-to-Person’s original goal was to provide a forum where people who were concerned about current social tensions could meet and consider what corrective steps ordinary citizens might take,” writes Person-to-Person Historian Janet Brown. The 1963 civil rights rally in Washington D.C. which was attended by 200,000, the ‘I Have a Dream’ speech and the assassinations of Dr. Martin Luther King and President Kennedy, “explains why Person-to-Person concentrated on instances of racial injustice and the constitutional guarantees of civil rights,” Brown writes, “The thrust of Person-to-Person was to inquire how we, privileged whites in a privileged town, could assist in achieving equal opportunities in housing, education, and employment for all citizens, regardless of race.” The Shermans served as moderators, drawing on their previous experience. Through discussions among those attending the weekly meetings held in the basement of the St. Luke’s Parish Hall, areas of concern were identified. With the guidelines of reconciliation and justice, Person-to-Person began by focusing on the specific study of what was called “our three-town community,” and discussions centered on ideas that included bussing between Darien, Norwalk and Stamford and how to implement the Head Start Program. Also broached was the possibility of implementing a tutoring program in the public schools, day care for 3-5 year-olds, new housing in both Norwalk and Stamford, summer day camps, the individual needs of welfare recipients and recreation for the elderly. “From the beginning the emphasis has been on the power of the personal relationship – the concern of one individual for another. From this understanding grew the name,” writes Mrs. Jean Sherman in the 1969 Person-to-Person Annual Report. She became Person-to-Person’s first Director. The Person-to-Person Program was officially announced in 1968, proposed by Dr. Back and endorsed by the Mutual Responsibility and Interdependence Committee of the Vestry. He urged the parish to find a way to see the people of neighboring communities who were of differing cultures not as a “faceless mass” but “as individuals with specific hopes and needs.” The credo that drove the agency was, “NEEDS of young and old, black and white, poor and affluent are met by RESOURCES of self, material goods, money.” Programs were set up to provide food, furniture, money, scholarship assistance, and summer programs for clients and studies were undertaken to determine the best way to meet housing needs and other challenges. A Christmas Project supplying food and a summer camp program was quickly embarked on. The 1969 Annual Report notes that, “A total number of 175 persons have called to volunteer since last spring, of which 80 are currently active as tutors, drivers, day care aides, office help, etc. A number of people have donated funds to be used as needs are communicated to us, such as rent deposits, special educational requests, emergency food supplies, etc. These have totaled $1,485.50." Emergency Assistance – Food: Under the leadership of the second Director, Mrs. Christian Benda, in 1971, a Harvest Festival was established that took place around Thanksgiving. Parishioners brought canned and packaged goods, fruits, vegetables, soups, crackers and cereal, for a growing number of clients. “Along with trust and dependence of Social Workers came recognition from other churches and organizations,” writes Mrs. Macdonald, who recorded Person-to-Person’s history thus far in 1981. “Food drives were conducted in a number of churches and by school classes and Scout Troops. The more than 60 members brought donations to their weekly meetings.” In 1973, food and produce were being provided by 15 area churches, gardeners at Cherry Lawn who donated produce planted by the Garden Club of Darien and the Noroton Presbyterian Church and assorted friends. A local baker and St. Luke’s parishioner donated overruns of bakery items. “Individuals brought surplus vegetables during the summer. One freezer was donated and later another so that we could store meat and bread. A cooking group took donated cake and bread mixes, supplied the eggs which clients could not afford, and turned out pies, cakes, cookies to be added to food packages,” writes Mrs. Macdonald. “A parishioner brought fish she’d caught in the Sound, all cleaned and wrapped for the freezer. Another, moving from Darien, gave several pounds of moose meat.” In 1979, more than sixty families were receiving food assistance. “Prices were skyrocketing,” wrote Mrs. Macdonald, “which now affected other than welfare clients.” Emergency Assistance – Clothing: A clothing donation center was set up in the basement of the Franklin House where many volunteers “labored long and faithfully, sorting, folding, helping clients find right sizes. Church groups mended, bound blankets, fashioned layettes and large size dresses,” writes Mrs. Macdonald. In 1977 a paid worker for the clothing center was hired. Emergency Assistance – Furniture: The furniture program began by taking requests for needed furniture and then trying to locate items to fill the bill. “Mrs. E. Tinsley Ray and Mrs. Donald Lang picked up and delivered whatever would fit in Mrs. Ray’s station wagon,” writes Mrs. Macdonald. “In 1973 a second-hand van was donated by a parishioner and Mrs. Ray toured Stamford and Norwalk looking for hub caps, a rear view mirror and other furbishments. Then she painted the truck and another parishioner hand-lettered the Person-to-Person logo on the front and rear doors.” Emergency Assistance – Holiday: The first year of its existence, during the holidays, Person-to-Person supplied 12 families, whose homes had caught on fire, with food and clothing. A tree trimmed with white paper doves was set up at St. Luke’s with lists of needed food. Soon participating churches displayed “Dove Trees” in their own buildings and Person-to-Person collected all the food boxes and delivered them. Later, four different colored doves replaced the one white dove offering alternatives to food and included scholarship assistance, volunteer hours and a new gift. Emergency Assistance – In-kind donations: “Items for the elderly, orthopedic and medical equipment, all sorts of things which other agencies are unable to supply somehow turn up,” writes Mrs. Macdonald, “Often by requests in church bulletins and sometimes simply by word of mouth.” Campership: The Campership program was established almost immediately. For several years funds were raised and volunteers worked with Family and Children’s Services to screen and process applications. As well, a six-week camp, co-sponsored with St. Luke’s Chapel was set up and private pools in Darien and New Canaan were used two days a week for the children to swim and cool off with lifeguards, aides and refreshments supplied by Person-to-Person. Field trips were sponsored by a number of area churches. A day camp at Carwin Park in Stamford for children from two housing projects was also put into place. Scholarship: “From 1968 straight through, needy students have received small grants for books, fees, travel, etc., without which they would have been unable to take advantage of scholarships and government loans, already secured,” writes Mrs. Macdonald. “We started with one young woman, co-sponsored with St. Luke’s Scholarship Assistance Fund and Berkeley Divinity School.” Funding came from an annual item in St. Luke’s budget, grants from ECW [Episcopal Church Women] individuals and memorials as well as from a Steel Band Benefit in 1971, proceeds from White Elephant sales at other churches and the “60 plus” club, Christmas and Easter offerings at St. Luke’s and other churches. “Although it still operates on a hand-to-mouth basis,” writes Mrs. Macdonald, “Each year, some 20-30 students receive help semester by semester.” “The goods and services aspects of Person-to-Person flow out, and educational programs reverse the current,” writes Mrs. Macdonald. “Starting with the Dialogues [the early discussions prior to formally announcing Person-to-Person] we’ve sought to improve the way we look at other peoples and communities and the way they see us. For four years with the YMCA we have sponsored seminars on racism. This year the Urban League of Southeastern Fairfield County joined with us. Representatives from many areas, schools, churches, businesses, have discussed aspects of racism and explored solutions. Potluck suppers preceding the sessions have brought diverse peoples together and formed enduring friendships. A group of black and white women met periodically in each others homes to discuss common as well as uncommon problems.”