Our Mission
Filling in the Blanks fights childhood hunger by providing children in need with meals on the weekends.
Our Story
Filling in the Blanks was founded by mothers and community activists, Shawnee Knight and Tina Kramer, who created the nonprofit as a way to marry their loves of community, children, food and charity. In 2013, Knight and Kramer created Filling in the Blanks which has now expanded to include over 200 sites throughout Fairfield and Westchester Counties and has delivered over TWO MILLION-weekend meals to children in low-income households.
Who We Support
Pre-Schools
BRIDGEPORT
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Adam J. Lewis
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Classical Studies Magnet
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Cesar Batalla
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Discovery Magnet
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Hall Neighborhood House
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New Beginnings Family Academy
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Roosevelt School
DANBURY
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Action Early Learning Center
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Head Start Danbury
GREENWICH
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Family Centers of Greenwich
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Armstrong Court
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Gateway
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Grauer
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Warburg
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NORWALK
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Greater Norwalk Head Start
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Nathan Ely
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Ben Franklin
-
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Family and Children's Agency/ASPIRE
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Growing Seeds
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Norwalk Early Childhood Center
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Room to Grow
STAMFORD
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Apples Early Child Education Center
-
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Franklin
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Franklin Common
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Lockwood
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Lathan Wilder
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Maple
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Palmer Hill
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Westover
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Middle Schools
BRIDGEPORT
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Barnum Middle School
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Blackham Middle School
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Cesar Batalla
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Multicultural Magnet Middle School
DARIEN
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Middlesex
DANBURY
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Rogers Park Middle School
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Broadview Middle School
NEW CANAAN
NEW YORK
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Fox Lane Middle School
NORWALK
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Nathan Hale
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Roton Middle School
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West Rocks
STAMFORD
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Cloonan
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Dolan
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Scofield Magnet
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Turn of the River
WESTPORT
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Coleytown Middle
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Bedford Middle
Camps
NORWALK
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Odyssey Pre-school Camp
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Stepping Stones Pre-school Camp
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Grassroots Tennis Summer Camp
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Family and Children Agency
STAMFORD
GREENWICH
Partner Agencies
BRIDGEPORT
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The Color A Positive Thought
DARIEN
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Darien Town Hall
NORWALK
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Senior Umbrella
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Norwalk Housing Authority
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Carver Center
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Norwalk PS State Dining Services
GREENWICH
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Meals on Wheels
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Jewish Family Services
NEW CANAAN
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New Canaan Food Pantry
Westport
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Westport Town Hall
Elementary Schools
NEW YORK
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Mt. Kisco
BRIDGEPORT
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Achievement First
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Black Rock School
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Beardsley Elementary
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Bridgeport Learning Center K-12
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Bryant Elementary School
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Classical Studies Magnet
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Claytor Magnet School
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Curiale School
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Edison Elementary School
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Geraldine Johnson School
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Hall Elementary
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High Horizons Magnet
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Hallen School
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John Winthrop School
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Luis Munoz Marin
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Madison Elementary School
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PL Dunbar
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Skane Elementary
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Read Elementary School
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Thomas Hooker
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Wilbur Cross
DARIEN
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Royle
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Hindley
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Tokeneke
GREENWICH
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Hamilton Avenue
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Hubbard Day
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Julian Curtiss
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New Lebanon
NEW CANAAN
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East
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South
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West
Stratford
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Franklin Elementary
NORWALK
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Brookside
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Cranbury
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Columbus
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Concord
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Fox Run
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Jefferson
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Kendall
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Marvin
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Naramanke
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Silvermine
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Sono
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Tracey
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Wolfpit
STAMFORD
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Hart
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Julia A. Stark
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Northeast
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Rogers International
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Waterside
WESTPORT
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Coleytown
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Green Farms
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Kings Highway
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Long lots
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Saugatuck
After School Programs
NORWALK
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Colonial Village Community Center
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Family and Children's Agency/ASPIRE
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Grassroots Tennis
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Norwalk Housing Authority
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Youth Business Initiative
STAMFORD
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Future Five
GREENWICH
Filling in the Blanks provides weekend meals to children in need who are eligible for the free or reduced lunch program. As well as the A.L.I.C.E. Population.
This program is available throughout the year, including the summer months.
For just $10.00 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-President/Co-Founder
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 and two sons.
Tina Kramer, Co-President/Co-Founder
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.
Our Team
Kevin Demmo
Warehouse Coordinator
Bio
Matt Knight
Assistant Director of Operations
Bio
Julio Lopez
Warehouse Lead
Bio
William Restrepo
Delivery Driver
Bio
Glenn Spearman
Delivery Driver
Bio
Our Board
Thomas Conheeney
Director
Thomas Conheeney is the Founder and CEO of EmeraldRidge Advisors, L.P. With 30+ years of experience working across multiple asset classes for leading Wall Street firms, he also has played roles in the philanthropic and education communities in Fairfield County.
Michael Johnson
Director
Michael Johnson is the Founder and CEO of J5Consulting. After 30+ years in the consulting business, he spent a few years after leaving the firm he founded supporting various causes focused on two areas: Education and Children. The Johnsons have a number of scholarship funds they manage that supports the underserved communities.
Douglas Knight
Director
As a Managing Partner of Worldtek, Doug harnesses his diverse experience in local, regional and mega agency operations with a focus on the financial aspects of the company. Doug is an industry veteran with one of the most multi-faceted agency insiders in today’s travel management marketplace.
Michael Kramer
Director
Michael Kramer is a founding member, owner and CEO of Ducera Partners, a boutique investment banking firm based in New York City. Prior to the founding of Ducera, Michael held senior leadership positions at other investment banks, including Perella Weinberg Partners, Greenhill & Co and Houlihan Lokey.
Chris LaSusa
Director
Chris LaSusa is head of Long Short Equities for Paloma Capital, a 42 year old investment firm with offices in Greenwich Connecticut and New York City. Prior to Paloma, Chris was a Portfolio Manager and Technology Sector Head at Point72 working there from 2003-2017. Chris is also heavily involved in The East Side House Settlement and the Lynne Cohen Foundation from a charitable standpoint. Chris lives in New Canaan with his wife Jennifer of 25 years with four children.
Sue Mirza
Board Chair
Ms. Mirza spent 15+ years in corporate banking and private equity before “retiring” to raise her family in Fairfield County and devote her time to philanthropic efforts. She devotes her time locally to Board seats at Filling in the Blanks and Inspirica.
Kristin Thomas
Director
Since 2013, Kristin has been a dedicated volunteer for Filling in the Blanks. Kristin has been the Grant Writer for Filling in the Blanks since 2018. She has been instrumental in securing the necessary resources to support the organization's mission and enhance its impact on the community.
Laura Waitz
Director
Laura Waitz is currently the Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer of Bankwell. She is a strategic business executive who uses her deep human capital management experience and relationship building expertise to impact growth of organizations while ensuring a best-in-class experience.
She is also a Board member of the African Leadership Foundation and serves as an Advisory Board member of Summus Global. Laura resides in New Canaan, CT.