June Employee of the Month: Greg Coumatos

June 16, 2026

When Greg Coumatos was recognized as the Food Bank of Delaware’s June Employee of the Month, he was quick to downplay the reason for the honor.

“This is something any one of us would have done,” said Greg, the Food Bank’s Director of Safety and Compliance.

But his colleagues saw things differently.

The recognition stemmed from an interaction Greg had during a recent Resource Fair at the Food Bank’s Newark facility. As the event was wrapping up, Greg noticed a woman carrying several bags.

“She had her hands full. She had a ton of bags,” he recalled.

After helping direct her to a restroom, Greg learned that the woman wasn’t scheduled to be picked up by her bus until around 2 p.m. Looking at the time, he realized she still had over two hours to wait.

The woman had also visited the mobile pantry and was sorting through the food she had received. Greg asked whether she was hungry.
“She said she was very hungry,” Greg said.

Although she had food with her, much of it wasn’t something she could eat immediately. There were canned goods and fresh eggs, but nothing ready to eat while she waited.

So, Greg invited her to the Café and bought her lunch.

Along with Kelsey, the Food Bank’s Newark Production Coordinator, he sat with her and talked.

“She felt bad she couldn’t finish the food,” Greg said. “I told her I didn’t care.”

As the conversation continued, Greg realized the meal wasn’t the most important thing he was offering.

“In that moment, it was clear she just needed to be in a conversation with somebody — somebody to talk with,” he said.

One detail especially stuck with him: the woman discovered she shared a birthday with Greg’s son. “She thought that was really funny,” he said.

For Greg, the experience reinforced a simple truth about human connection.

“We’re all human and want to be treated like another human being,” he said. “I just spoke to her.”

Greg also credited Tee Sanders, the Food Bank’s Specialized Training Program Director, for helping ensure the woman had accurate information about her transportation arrangements.

While Greg may view his actions as ordinary, the compassion and dignity he showed left a lasting impression on those around him. Sometimes making a difference begins with something as simple as noticing someone, sharing a meal, and taking the time to listen.

Congratulations, Greg! And you’re right, at the Food Bank that’s what we do!