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 100 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
-
Adam J. Lewis
-
Classical Studies Magnet
-
Discovery Magnet
-
Hall Neighborhood House
-
New Beginnings Family Academy
-
Roosevelt School
DANBURY
-
Head Start Danbury
GREENWICH
-
Family Centers of Greenwich
-
Armstrong Court
-
Gateway
-
Grauer
-
Warburg
-
NORWALK
-
Greater Norwalk Head Start
-
Nathan Ely
-
Ben Franklin
-
-
Family and Children's Agency/ASPIRE
-
Growing Seeds
-
Norwalk Early Childhood Center
-
Room to Grow
-
Side by Side
STAMFORD
-
Apples Early Child Education Center
-
-
Franklin
-
Franklin Common
-
Lockwood
-
Lathan Wilder
-
Maple
-
Palmer Hill
-
Westover
-
Middle Schools
BRIDGEPORT
-
Barnum Middle School
-
Blackham Middle School
-
Multicultural Magnet Middle School
DARIEN
-
Middlesex
DANBURY
-
Rogers Park Middle School
-
Broadview Middle School
NEW CANAAN
NEW YORK
-
Fox Lane Middle School
NORWALK
-
Nathan Hale
-
Roton Middle School
-
West Rocks
STAMFORD
-
Cloonan
-
Dolan
-
Scofield Magnet
-
Turn of the River
WESTPORT
-
Coleytown Middle
-
Bedford Middle
Camps
NORWALK
-
Odyssey Pre-school Camp
-
Stepping Stones Pre-school Camp
-
Grassroots Tennis Summer Camp
-
Family and Children Agency
STAMFORD
GREENWICH
Partner Agencies
BRIDGEPORT
-
The Color A Positive Thought
DARIEN
-
Darien Town Hall
NORWALK
-
Senior Umbrella
-
Norwalk Housing Authority
-
Carver Center
-
Norwalk PS State Dining Services
GREENWICH
-
Meals on Wheels
NEW CANAAN
-
New Canaan Food Pantry
Elementary Schools
NEW YORK
-
Mt. Kisco
BRIDGEPORT
-
Achievement First
-
Black Rock School
-
Bridgeport Learning Center K-12
-
Bryant Elementary School
-
Classical Studies Magnet
-
Claytor Magnet School
-
Columbus Elementary
-
Curiale School
-
Edison Elementary School
-
Geraldine Johnson School
-
Hall Elementary
-
High Horizons Magnet
-
Hallen School
-
John Winthrop School
-
Luis Munoz Marin
-
Madison Elementary School
-
PL Dunbar
-
Skane Elementary
-
Read Elementary School
-
Wilbur Cross
DARIEN
-
Royle
-
Hindley
-
Tokeneke
GREENWICH
-
Hamilton Avenue
-
Hubbard Day
-
Julian Curtiss
-
New Lebanon
NEW CANAAN
-
East
-
South
-
West
Stratford
-
Franklin Elementary
NORWALK
-
Brookside
-
Cranbury
-
Columbus
-
Concord
-
Fox Run
-
Jefferson
-
Kendall
-
Marvin
-
Naramanke
-
Silvermine
-
Sono
-
Tracey
-
Wolfpit
STAMFORD
-
Hart
-
Julia A. Stark
-
Northeast
-
Rogers International
-
Waterside
WESTPORT
-
Coleytown
-
Green Farms
-
Kings Highway
-
Long lots
-
Saugatuck
High Schools
BRIDGEPORT
-
Bassik
-
Central
-
Fairchild Wheeler
-
Harding
-
Military Academy
-
Tisdale
DARIEN
-
Darien
FAIRFIELD
-
Fairfield Ward
-
Walter Fitz
GREENWICH
-
Greenwich
-
Windrose
-
Hubbard Day
LITCHFIELD COUNTY
-
New Milford
NORWALK
-
Future Ready
-
Norwalk HS Next Steps
-
PTECH
-
Global Studies
NEW CANAAN
STAMFORD
WESTPORT
- Staples
After School Programs
NORWALK
-
Colonial Village Community Center
-
Family and Children's Agency/ASPIRE
-
Grassroots Tennis
-
Norwalk Housing Authority
-
Youth Business Initiative
STAMFORD
-
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 of 19 years and her two boys.
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
Matt Knight
Office Manager
Bio
Kevin Demmo
Warehouse Coordinator
Bio
William Restrepo
Glenn Spearman
Delivery Driver
Delivery Driver
Bio
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 (51) 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.
Sue Mirza
Director
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.
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.