“My family sometimes lives from paycheck to paycheck, and having children in the home who are growing and always hungry is sometimes a struggle. The Filling in the Blanks program has been a godsend! Thank you for this program on behalf of my family and my students.”
– Hanifah, Parent and Educator

You never know who might be struggling. In 2024, 14.4% of American households experienced food insecurity, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. While statistics tell part of the story, we see the reality of food insecurity every day in the communities we serve. 

The town of Fairfield recently undertook a comprehensive Youth Needs Assessment to better understand its strengths and challenges. Fairfield is a beautiful, safe community with great schools, and yet food insecurity came up again and again as a critical challenge facing its children and their families. 

“The conversations that really stood out to me during our youth needs assessment process were conversations I had with local pediatricians who were really concerned about the levels of food insecurity they were observing.” – Emily Larkin, Youth Services Social Worker, Town of Fairfield

Hunger in our communities doesn’t look like the stereotype of malnourished children in far away places. It shows up as young students who arrive at school agitated, unable to focus, and more likely to be combative, and teenagers too tired to participate in extracurriculars. Children may be resilient, but science tells us that experiencing adverse trauma, including food insecurity, can lead to poorer long-term outcomes.

For over a dozen years, we’ve been committed to providing solutions and relief to families in need. It’s not complicated. When people are struggling, they just need help. And that’s exactly what we deliver, week after week and year after year.

Filling in the Blanks distributes more than 11,000 Weekend Meal Bags at over 200 schools a week, and as of this fall, that includes every public school in the town of Fairfield. Behind every number is a family facing difficult choices. Our goal is to be there for every student and parent who needs help ensuring their nutritional needs are met. If you aren’t a supporter yet, or it’s just been a while, this is a great time to get involved!