Our Mission
Filling in the Blanks fights childhood hunger by providing children in need with meals on the weekends.
Who We Support
Pre-Schools
Childhood Learning Centers, Odyssey, Stepping Stones ELLI and Family Centers of Greenwich.
Elementary Schools
Bedford Hills, Davenport Ridge, KT Murphy, Newfield, Roxbury, Springdale, Stillmeadow, Strawberry Hill, Toquam, Westover Elementary School,
Rowayton and Grassroots.
Middle Schools
Domus, Roton, Rippowam and Scofield Magnet Middle School, Cloonan, Ponus and Family and Children's Agency.
High Schools
AITE, Stamford High School and Future Five.
Camps
The Boys and Girls Club, Chester Addison Community Center and The Yerwood Center.
Filling in the Blanks provides weekend meals to children in need who are eligible for the free or reduced lunch program.
This program is available throughout the year, including the summer months.
For just $5.25 a weekend, each
child is provided with a bag of non-perishable, easy to prepare food items and a fresh piece of fruit.
Our Founders
Shawnee Knight, Co-Director
Shawnee Knight is a passionate chef, community activist, board member, wife and mother. Classically trained at the French Culinary Institute of NYC, co-founding Filling in the Blanks has allowed her to marry her love of food, community and charity. What began with the Connecticut chapter of Blessings in a Backpack has grown into an organization based on Knight’s strong sense of social responsibility to nurture the community’s needy children and inspire others to do the same. Shawnee is a member of the Stamford Food Collaborative, a United Way program, whose mission is to improve access to food, quality of food and sustainability of food for all members of Stamford. She is also a member of the Stamford Public Schools Strategic Planning Advisory Committee, which focuses on ways to improve the educational well being of the district’s students. When she’s not serving on committees and boards in the area of New Canaan, CT, Knight enjoys spending time with her husband of 19 years and her two boys.
Tina Kramer, Co-Director
Filling in the Blanks allows Tina to combine her passion for community service and love of children. Through her deep-rooted connections in the community, she has rallied families and children to help raise funds and pack thousands of bags of food for children in need. Tina has served on various charitable boards and committees over the past 14 years. Tina is a member of the Stamford Food Collaborative, a United Way program, whose mission is to improve access to food, quality of food and sustainability of food for all members of Stamford. She is also a member of the Stamford Public Schools Strategic Planning Advisory Committee, which focuses on ways to improve the educational well being of the district’s students. Tina received her B.A. from the University of Connecticut.