The end-of-year giving season is our most critical time of year for securing the funds to keep our programs going—and growing—in the year ahead.
We take care in finding just the right words to express the need for and impact of our work in the hopes it will inspire generous support, but the words that keep us inspired come from those we serve. If they move you too, you know what to do.
Research has shown—and families tell us—that the inability to afford food and other basics takes a huge emotional toll. Your support does more than simply put food on the table, it improves families’ wellbeing and builds community.Invest in a sure thing. Invest in tomorrow with your donation today.
Putting food on the table is a challenge for too many families, especially those with children. Last year, more than 1 in 6 families struggled to secure the food they needed.
Childhood food insecurity comes with long-term consequences—from poor health to lower academic performance. This is why every week, Filling in the Blanks delivers high-quality food to over 8,000 students and their families across Fairfield, Westchester, and Putnam counties. What began with just 50 children in 2013 has grown exponentially, a testament to the urgency of our mission and the unwavering support of our community.
In response to growing need, we added the Fresh Food on the Move Mobile Pantry late last year to bring fresh, nutritious food directly to families struggling to access these essentials. In partnership with local agencies providing housing assistance, health screenings, insurance information, and other vital services, the pantry also serves as a destination for wrap-around support. Research has shown—and families tell us—that the inability to afford food and other basics takes a huge emotional toll. Through expanded programs and a continued focus on equitable assistance, we’re enabling families to put food on the table and access needed support without added stress.
Invest in a sure thing. Invest in tomorrow.
As we look to the future, your continued partnership is critical in ensuring no child in our community goes hungry. Help us secure a stronger community tomorrow by supporting Filling in the Blanks today.
Saturday, October 26, 2024, Bridgeport CT. – New Mobile Pantry Expands Access to Fresh Food and Health Services for Local Families
Filling in the Blanks, a nonprofit organization dedicated to alleviating food insecurity, is proud to announce the launch of its third mobile pantry location, “Fresh Food on the Move,” in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Building on the success of two existing locations in Stamford and Norwalk, the Bridgeport mobile pantry will serve as a vital resource for the local community, offering fresh fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins, and essential health and wellness services. The pantry will be located at the Luis Munoz Morin Elementary school the last Saturday of every month.
The Bridgeport expansion has been made possible through the generous support of The Hackett Family. Initial seed funding from The Rhimes Foundation played a crucial role in sparking this contribution, highlighting the community-wide commitment to combating hunger and promoting well-being.
“We have attended the Stamford and Norwalk mobile pantry events, and we were moved by the impact Filling in the Blanks is having on these communities. We are delighted to assist Filling in the Blanks in their launch of pantry events in the Bridgeport community as well. There are so many communities in need, in the Fairfield and Westchester areas and Filling in the Blanks is addressing their most critical needs of food security and health and wellness.”-Pat Hackett
“Fresh Food on the Move” goes beyond being just a food distribution point. It also functions as a community hub where residents can access critical health services through partnerships with local service providers. This innovative approach ensures that those in need not only receive fresh, nutritious food but also have opportunities to connect with essential wellness resources, creating a holistic support network for vulnerable populations.
“We’re thrilled to bring this life-changing service to Bridgeport,” said Tina Kramer, Co-Founder of Filling in the Blanks. “Our mobile pantries do more than provide food—they foster a sense of community, offering essential health and wellness services to ensure people thrive, not just survive. Thanks to our partners at The Rhimes Foundation and The Hackett Family, we’re able to extend our reach and deepen our impact.”
The Bridgeport mobile pantry is expected to serve hundreds of families each month, furthering Filling in the Blanks’ mission to close the gap on food insecurity across Connecticut.
Co-Founder Shawnee Knight added, “We believe in the power of partnerships and community. With every mobile pantry, we are bringing together vital resources to create stronger, healthier neighborhoods. We are so grateful for the generosity of our supporters who make this possible.”
Filling in the Blanks continues to fight food insecurity by delivering weekend meals to 8,000 plus children in need, and with the addition of this mobile pantry, the organization can reach even more families, helping ensure that no child or family goes hungry.
For more information about Filling in the Blanks and the “Fresh Food on the Move” program, please visit www.fillingintheblanks.org.
Contact:Name Shawnee Knight & Tina KramerTitle Co-FoundersPhone 203-750-0019Email info@fillingintheblanks.org
About Filling in the Blanks:Filling in the Blanks fights childhood hunger by providing children in need with meals on the weekends. They partner with local schools to distribute food and have expanded their reach through innovative programs like “Fresh Food on the Move.” Founded in 2013, the organization’s mission is to close the gap on food insecurity and ensure that every child has access to nutritious meals.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently released figures on food insecurity for 2023, its most up-to-date reporting. Households are deemed “food insecure” if they don’t always have enough food due to finances or other limited resources.
What is food insecurity?
Food insecurity comes in two levels:
Low food security: Families have enough food, but it may not always be healthy or balanced. They sometimes rely on cheaper, less nutritious options.
Very low food security: This is more serious. It means people in the household, including adults or children, have had to eat less or skip meals because they can’t afford enough food.
A significant portion of U.S. households—13.5% or about 1 in 7, and slightly more than in 2022—were food insecure last year. And households with children were particularly impacted—17.9% of them did not always have the food they needed.
Government assistance helps, but program limitations and structural barriers prevented close to half of food-insecure households from participating last year.
Government assistance programs
SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) provides funds to buy food.
WIC (Women, Infants, and Children Program) helps families with young kids and pregnant women.
National School Lunch Program gives free or reduced-price meals to kids at school.
Here in Connecticut, a family’s household income can not exceed $55,000 dollars to qualify for reduced price school meals. But a report from the United Way of Connecticut calculated that a family needs to make about $126,000 to get by here. That’s a BIG gap.
It’s volunteer recognition week and we’re celebrating our beloved volunteers who play such an important role in the Filling in the Blanks Weekend Meal Program. We serve up to 3,000 children weekly and we are so grateful for the helping hands of volunteers who help us pack and deliver meals each week.
There are so many reasons to volunteer to support your community, so we spoke with a few of our volunteers to learn more about their motivation and how volunteering during the pandemic has impacted them:
Senator Duff: “I volunteer with Filling In the Blanks because it’s the right thing to do. Food insecurity to me, especially with our youth, is very troubling. There is plenty of food and we need to make sure we are not leaving the most vulnerable hungry. Since I was very young, my family instilled the value of volunteering for the greater good. Helping the community and making a positive impact was always core belief. It feels good to help others. What surprised me however, was the number of people who need help and they are from all walks of life. Many people are living only a paycheck away from serious problems, whether not being able to afford food, rent or even lifesaving prescription drugs.”
Aimee Mueller, Parent Volunteer: “At FITB, I have the opportunity to be involved in one of the things I love the most, helping children and families. I hope that by volunteering to provide a meal to children helps alleviate some stress for families. I am inspired every time I am in the FITB warehouse. When I see all the volunteers and the amount of donations ready to be packed, it reminds me of all the good in our community.”
Rob Knechtle, Grace Community Church Youth Pastor: “I grew up in Connecticut and love this state. There’s lots of financial disparity in this state, and I hope that in some small way we can address needs and help lift people up through the FITB feeding program. Volunteering at FITB has been an outlet to help out in the community, to create friendships and meet people. To see kids and people in Connecticut being helped by this food program is very rewarding. To see a smile or a family helped out is what this is about. Jesus tells us to love one another and one of the ways of doing that is through taking care of our neighbors, of meeting a hunger need.”
Jeremy Stewart, Student Volunteer: “My parents introduced me to FITB a few years ago to help give back to the community and volunteer. Of course, my younger self didn’t want to go because it was just packing and I was too ignorant to understand how impactful one singular bag really is. Now I’ve been doing it for years and it gives me a sense of helpfulness giving back to the community. Volunteering definitely made me more conscious of what others are going through and even a little more selfless. When I got to give the [Weekend Meal Bags] to the students, seeing them smiling and happy just made me so happy.”
Maria Fata, Parent Volunteer: “Volunteering can change someone’s life in a positive way. So many families struggle trying to make ends meet, even more now during the pandemic. Knowing that I can help children get food into their tummies is so important and rewarding. Whether I was helping pack meal bags, deliver meal bags, donate school bags or sort through hundreds of toothbrushes/toothpaste, I knew that everyone that steps up to help at FITB is making a difference in a child’s life.”
If you’d like to get involved, there are many ways to volunteer with us! We schedule small, socially distanced groups of volunteers at our warehouse to help pack and deliver meals, and we also welcome you to host your own food drive for essential items. We are also in need of virtual volunteers on social media to help raise awareness for our work and the issue of local childhood hunger. Visit our volunteer page to learn more – there’s a way to help that works for everyone
New Canaan Community Foundation announced the third round of grants awarded through their COVID-19 Response Fund and related efforts. Grants this week invest a total of $172,500 and focus on additional food assistance needs; support for the immigrant community; and violence prevention and intervention efforts.
New Canaan Community Foundation’s COVID-19 Response Fund was launched on March 18th, and mobilizes private resources to: support the emergency financial needs of New Canaan families and workers; help nonprofit organizations adapt to changing client needs, as well as shifts in operations; and support critical services in lower Fairfield County. Since its launch, the fund has rapidly invested over $370,000 in community partners.
The third round of grants awarded:
Building One Community: $25,000
Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants (CIRI): $25,000
Domestic Violence Crisis Center: $10,000
Exchange Club Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse of Southern CT: $10,000
Filling in the Blanks: $20,000
Food Rescue US: $10,000
New Canaan Food Pantry: $7,500
New Covenant Center: $30,000
Open Door Shelter: $10,000
Saint Joseph Parenting Center: $10,000
Waveny LifeCare Network: $15,000
This week’s investments mobilize an additional $77,500 in food assistance to five organizations. New Covenant Center, the largest soup kitchen/food pantry in the greater Stamford area, is the recipient of $30,000. Increases in demand have the organization currently serving 450-700 meals each day, including meals for clients of partner nonprofits such as Pacific House, Inspirica and Building One Community. Filling in the Blanks is the recipient of $20,000 to support expansion of its weekend and emergency meals for children, and the Open Door Shelter is the recipient of $10,000 to support its food programs serving the South Norwalk community. Two additional organizations – the New Canaan Food Pantry and Food Rescue US – are receiving their second grants from the Response Fund. The New Canaan Food Pantry’s grant supports a newly-created partnership with the New Canaan Farmers Market that will allow food pantry clients to shop for fresh produce and other items at the market and support the Farmers Market merchants. This is in addition to bulk food purchases and grocery store gift cards supported through an earlier grant to the Food Pantry. Food Rescue US’s grant provides additional support for the purchase of meals from New Canaan restaurants, supporting our local businesses, and delivery of these meals to local nonprofits serving clients in need of food assistance. Press Burger, a local New Canaan restaurant who participated in this partnership with the first round of funding to Food Rescue US, commented “even though outdoor dining has been introduced, our business is still down dramatically and the looser restrictions really haven’t changed anything for our small shop due to the distance requirements and folks still hesitant about coming out. We would be unbelievably grateful if the NCCF could fund the program again and help us through the continuing difficult circumstances.”
A total of $50,000 is being invested in two organizations supporting our immigrant neighbors. Building One Community and the Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants (CIRI) will each receive $25,000 to support the emergency and ongoing needs of their clients in response to the pandemic. Immigrant communities have been hit disproportionately hard by the impacts of the pandemic, primarily based on where they live, and where they work, often in essential jobs. Fairfield County is home to a large immigrant community – according to a 2019 analysis by DataHaven, 14% of CT’s population is foreign born, but this figure increases to 22% of Fairfield County’s population, 28% of Norwalk’s population, and 35% of Stamford’s population. Many have been excluded from public sources of support in this crisis. Needs for food, rental and other emergency assistance have been overwhelming, and are expected to continue at high levels.
A total of $30,000 is being invested in three organizations focused on violence prevention and intervention – the Domestic Violence Crisis Center, the Exchange Club Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse of Southern CT, and the Saint Joseph Parenting Center. This initial grant support will help each organization respond and adapt to current client needs, but each has been limited in its ability to expand services, as referral sources (such as schools and the court system) have been closed and therefore people in need have not yet connected to their services. It is expected that intense needs will surface as these systems re-open, and the Foundation is keeping in close touch with partners to understand changing needs.
Finally, a second grant has been mobilized to support Waveny LifeCare, particularly their continual provision of personal protective equipment (PPE). The long-time partner of the Foundation continues to respond to the needs of their staff and clients, impacted particularly hard by this disease.
More than $460,000 has been raised to-date for New Canaan Community Foundation’s COVID-19 Response Fund. Dollars invested in nonprofit partners now total over $370,000, including both specific response fund giving, as well as dollars from the Touch A Life Fund, a long-standing emergency support fund at the Foundation. “We are deploying dollars rapidly, but also keeping a close eye on developing needs, as well as resources that will be needed for recovery efforts,” commented Lauren Patterson, President & CEO of the New Canaan Community Foundation. “We know that specific needs will arise as our community re-opens, and that particular issues like behavioral health will be important for us all.”The New Canaan Community Foundation, founded in 1977, serves as New Canaan’s local partner for advice, leadership, and facilitation of charitable giving. Their vision strives for a New Canaan that comes together to address both individual and local challenges, enriching the lives of all community members. To-date, the New Canaan Community Foundation has invested more than $16 million in nonprofit organizations, working with individuals and businesses to achieve their philanthropic goals through donor-advised funds and other partnerships. Learn more at www.newcanaancf.org
The Fifth Annual Plates with Purpose—an evening of food, fun, and festivities, will be held October 5, 2024. Master of Ceremony Mar Jennings—television host and actor, and friend of Filling in the Blanks—will take guests on a culinary adventure designed by some of Connecticut’s top chefs.
Having trained and cooked professionally at celebrated restaurants from Boston to San Francisco to New York, Hannah’s obsession and passion for great food and parties started early and hasn’t stopped. A permanent student of Food and Entertaining, she soaks up inspiration from the greats around the globe. The end result has been 20 plus years of massive amounts of reveling with her catering business Revel with DinnerThyme. “It is so exciting and always a challenge and joy to bring a great party to life, large or small. Great parties absolutely inspire people and make life great.
A Norwalk native and the youngest of six kids, Damon’s culinary journey began when he announced to his parents that he was henceforth a vegetarian. His parents, not inclined to begin changing the repertoire, wished him luck on this new solo endeavor.Damon began studying herbology and figured out how cook out of necessity and his own self-determination. As the creative force at 29 Markle Ct, the former professional keys and trumpet player has developed a diverse and distinctive menu, matched only by the restaurant’s playlist which he also curates.
Born and raised on his grandfather’s farm in rural South Dakota, Luke trained in kitchens from Napa Valley to New York City, where he was mentored by Michelin two-star chef Shaun Hergatt. He first ventured to Connecticut as the opening chef de cuisine of the James Beard Nominated Millwright’s in Simsbury and his style has since been praised by The New York Times, Gotham, Elle, and Wine Spectator. Luke’s approach at Elm is influenced by the culinary traditions of the east coast, with imaginative nods to the travels that brought him here.
A native New Yorker who came up in Manhattan, Jared cut his teeth at Fortina, Washington Prime, and Amore before debuting Bar Rosina’s in Greenwich with partner Coby Blount. The venture has allowed Jared to fully embrace the classic but refined Italian fare he’s been cooking for over a decade.
Half Greek, half Italian, and the son of a food purveyor for high end ingredients, Anthony was fated for a culinary life. By age 20, he was working in New Haven as a server and bartender at Ibiza, when he decided to leave college and pursue his real passion, cooking. Anthony worked his way through the Culinary Institute of America before graduating to Le Farm and cooking under The Whelk’s Bill Taibe with whom he would shortly reunite.
Andréa’s culinary journey began humbly in her grandmother’s kitchen, which continues to influencer her cooking. A graduate of the prestigious Culinary Institute of America, Andréa often infuses menus with her Southern American and Caribbean roots. Catering and events became the focus of her career after an internship with Blackstone Caterers in Newport Rhode Island, and stints abroad unlocked a passion for travel and exploring the world’s cuisines. When not creating and executing the diverse menu for Abigail Kirsch you can find Andréa chasing the next stamp for her passport and finding new opportunities to bridge her love of cooking with her desire to spread kindness and hope with others.
Rob channels his love for feeding people into pushing the possibilities of sourdough. This self-taught baker and owner of Flour Water Salt Bread, a sourdough boulangerie with locations in Darien and Greenwich, focuses on old-world baking and French style pastries.
Welcome to the second edition of Filling in the Blanks’ Food for Thought Quarterly! In this newsletter, we are excited to share some inspiring stories of impact, updates on our programs and partnerships, and upcoming events!
Your supportis crucial in helping fight childhood hunger.
Recap of events
2024 Impact Fairfield County Grant Winner On May 8, 2024, Impact Fairfield County awarded FITB $100,000 to continue our Fresh Food on the Move Mobile Pantry! This incredible grant will support 7 mobile pantry events allowing us to continue feeding families with high quality fresh food twice a month in Norwalk and Stamford and grow the collaboration with our community partners.
11th Annual Golf Outing – May 14, 2024 Thank you for the 128 golfers who participated in our 11th annual golf outing! This year, we raised a record breaking $445,011! Thank you to all you who participated, volunteered, donated, and attended this year. A special thank you to our Tournament Sponsor, Cellmark.
Save the date for our 12th Annual Golf Outing on May 13, 2025!
What’s new
Filling in the Blanks has partnered with Husky Harvest Food Pantry at UCONN Stamford to ensure students have access to needed nutrition. A UCONN student survey found 38% of students faced food insecurity, while about 30% reported skipping meals to save money across each campus. Donate today to support this exciting new partnership and our commitment to providing $30,000 of food this upcoming school year.
Plates with Purpose Join us on October 5th for the Fifth Annual Plates with Purpose Gala. Enjoy an extraordinary culinary experience crafted by some of the area’s finest chefs, including Luke Venner of Elm, Hannah Gorman of Revel with DinnerThyme, Anthony Kostelis of The Whelk, Jared Falco of Bar Rosina’s, Peter Mamadjanian of Abigail Kirsch, and Damon Sawyer of 29 Markle. We look forward to sharing this magical evening with you!
Thank you to our sponsors!
A huge thank you to our Corporate Partners. Your sponsorship has been an incredible benefit to our team and organization and we are so grateful for your kindness. We recognize the following companies for their commitment to feeding hungry children.
We ended the 2024 school year feeding 8,660 children at 223 locations across Fairfield and Westchester Counties.
As you know, summer can be a struggle for families without the assistance of school meals, which is why we keep working hard to bring food to camps and other summer services. Please consider making a gift to help us continue to feed children in need.
Read the full article on Greenwich Free Press by clicking HERE.
Filling in the Blanks announced this week they are thrilled to be a recipient of a$100,000 Grant given by IMPACT Fairfield County.
The vote followed a rigorous application process which narrowed down an initial pool of nearly 60 nonprofit applicants to five finalist organizations who presented at the Grant Awards Celebration.
After undertaking a comprehensive review of the applications and conducting thorough site visits, members selected the five finalists, and ultimately the two winners, based on criteria including the organization’s demonstrated impact, the population served, and the long-term sustainability of the project.
Filling in the Blanks and Boys and Girls Club of Stamford won the $100,000 grants.
Filling in the Blanks, based in Norwalk, is fighting childhood hunger by providing over 8,000 children in need with meals on the weekends, delivering over 3 million meals in their 11 year history. After learning that families were sharing the meals provided for the children, FITB launched the “Fresh Food on the Move” mobile food pantry program, which conducts two monthly distributions in Norwalk and Stamford.
This initiative serves 900 families a month, offering grade-A quality fresh vegetables, fruit, meat, grains, and dairy, empowering families to cook nutritious meals at home and eat together. “Fresh Food on the Move” creates a supportive environment similar to a farmers’ market, partnering with local agencies and providing services ranging from hygiene products, winter coats, books, flu vaccines, health insurance, housing and employment opportunities, and financial literacy at the events, in addition to the food pantry.
With support from the Impact FFC Grant, FITB will fund seven mobile food pantry events, providing over 175,000 pounds of fresh food to community members.
“Our mobile pantry is more than just food – it’s a community hub providing essential services with dignity and compassion and helping to reduce stress from their lives. With the addition of these seven events, we’ll be able to provide increased consistency, trust and compassion for our families, transforming the lives of so many who struggle with food insecurity and other challenges” said Shawnee Knight & Tina Kramer, Co-Founders, Presidents of Filling in the Blanks.
With Impact FFC’s membership representing 19 towns across Fairfield County, Impact FFC continues to push the boundaries of where and how Impact FFC can make a difference, across the spectrum of age groups and supporting a variety of initiatives ranging from education and skill training, to healthcare, to basic needs.
In its ninth year of investing to transform the lives of Fairfield County’s neediest, Impact FFC has provided over $2.1 million in total grant funding. “With this year’s grants, we will be supporting initiatives designed to better meet the health, wellness and basic needs of our community members. We look forward to seeing these organizations use their grants to impact so many,” said Impact FFC Co-President Jenny San Jose.
Next year’s grant cycle will represent Impact FFC’s tenth year of giving, which will be celebrated throughout the year.
Impact FFC is a collective giving organization whose mission is to encourage women to engage in local philanthropy through deeper knowledge and active participation in grantmaking. It unites women by pooling membership funds to provide large, transformational grants to nonprofit organizations across Fairfield County.
Filling in the Blanks, a nonprofit organization in Norwalk, has been awarded a grant exceeding $100,000 from Impact Fairfield County.
The grant will support their “Fresh Food on the Move” mobile pantry initiative, aimed at combating local food insecurity.
The organization received the grant with a celebratory event at their warehouse.
“This is going to provide about 175,000 pounds of food to families. It’s tremendously helpful, the mobile pantry is more than just food it’s a community hub,” says Shawnee Knight, President of Filling in the Blanks. Filling in the Blanks serves communities throughout the state all year long.
