Read the full article on the New Canaanite by clicking HERE.

When Tina Kramer and Shawnee Knight founded the nonprofit organization Filling in the Blanks in 2013, their mission was to feed as many children facing food insecurity as possible. 

Fast forward to more than one decade later, and Filling in the Blanks is one of two Fairfield County nonprofits to receive a major grant.

The $100,000 “IMPACT Fairfield County” grant is “a big deal,” according to Knight.

“It’s going to provide 175,000 pounds of food to families, so we’ll be able to do seven additional distributions next year,” she said. “It’s really important to the families, it’s going to feed thousands.”

Kramer, Knight, Filling in the Blanks volunteers, state legislators and representatives from IMPACT attended a check presentation ceremony at the nonprofit’s Norwalk packing and fulfillment center. 

The beloved organization has sourced, packaged and delivered more than 2 million weekend meals to children. 

That caught the eye of IMPACT co-presidents Jenny San Jose and Kristen Rosenbaum. IMPACT encourages women to engage in local philanthropy through deeper knowledge and active participation in grantmaking.

Filling in the Blanks stood out in its application and articulated how responsive the organization is to emerging needs and in finding innovative solutions, according to Rosenbaum.

“They did a good job explaining what the problem was, sharing stories, and then having solutions to the problem by going into neighborhoods with their mobile pantries and turning their distribution center into a farmers market,” Rosenbaum said.

Filling in the Blanks (“FITB”) is thrilled to announce a $20,000 grant awarded by Cain Management Inc. and Joy in Childhood Foundation to eradicate childhood hunger in local communities. This significant donation will enable FITB to expand our vital food programs, ensuring that no child in Fairfield and Westchester counties goes to bed hungry.

Since its establishment in 2013, FITB has continuously provided the community’s children with weekend meals. Ensuring children have adequate access to food over the weekend while not in school. FITB is based in Norwalk, CT, and serves over 5,500 children weekly with weekend meal bags at over 200 sites throughout Fairfield and Westchester Counties, including every school in Bridgeport, Norwalk, and Stamford, CT.

“Our partnership with Cain Management Inc. and Joy in Childhood Foundation during an era where corporate responsibility is more important than ever, Cain Management Inc. is setting a shining example of how a brand can make a profound difference in the community it serves.” commented Tina Kramer, Co-Founder FITB

Childhood hunger remains a critical issue, with 1 in 10 children struggling with food insecurity. The Joy in Childhood Foundation and Cain Management Inc. are committed to making a meaningful difference in the lives of children, and their generous support of FITB aligns with our mission to feed food-insecure children.

“We were thrilled to learn that after nominating FITB for a grant, Joy in Childhood had chosen FITB to receive a $20,000 grant. In the short time we have been partnering with FITB we have been so impressed by the clear vision Tina and Shawnee have to provide healthy and consistent food support to so many children in our area. They continue to strive to find new ways of reaching out, connecting, and supporting the community. We are so proud to be a part of the FITB family.” said Shaun Cain, President of Cain Management II, Inc.

“Grant funding will allow us to purchase healthier more diverse food options, ensuring that children receive the nutrition they need for proper growth and development. It will also allow FITB to extend our reach and programming to additional sites in Bridgeport and Danbury, CT.” said Shawnee Knight, FITB Co-Founder.

DATE: October 14, 2023

TIME: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

LOCATION: South Norwalk Neighborhood School, 46 Concord Street, Norwalk, CT 06854

Filling in the Blanks, an innovative hunger relief nonprofit serving portions of Connecticut and New York is thrilled to announce that their hunger relief services are hitting the road. Programs and services will now include a mobile pantry.

The organization currently serves thousands of families via school-based pantries and weekend meal bags, along with other assistance programs. Amid increasing insecurity exacerbated by reduced government aid, the new mobile pantry will deliver fresh produce, meat, dairy, and other food staples—plus access to vital health and wellness services—directly to low-income neighborhoods.

Anticipated services include health screenings, vaccination, and eye exams in partnership with other nonprofits and community organizations. The pantry is planned to operate once a month in Norwalk and Stamford and is anticipated to serve up to 300 individuals at each site.

Filling in the Blanks is able to bring this new program to the community thanks to the generosity of prolific television producer and writer Shonda Rhimes, founder of the Rhimes Foundation. “I wanted to find a place where my family and I could volunteer. What I found were two forces of nature, Shawnee and Tina, who were determined to change the lives of the children and families they served. They weren’t afraid to take risks and do whatever is needed to bring much-needed services to our community. I am honored to support their efforts to reach even more people with the mobile pantry.”

Filling in the Blanks’ co-founders Shawnee Knight and Tina Kramer are grateful to count Ms. Rhimes among their dedicated and enthusiastic supporters. “We’ve been blown away by Shonda’s embrace of our efforts to address food insecurity locally. We started this organization out of our homes with a simple idea to help families fill the weekend meal gap. We’ve grown exponentially since then and could not be prouder to begin helping families fill in even more blanks thanks to Shonda’s support.”

The generosity of the Rhimes Foundation enabled Filling in the Blanks to launch this effort, however, sustaining and growing its impact will require continued support from its larger community of donors and volunteers. “We’re looking ahead to the upcoming giving season and hoping our community will share our enthusiasm to do even more for Connecticut’s most vulnerable. This is only the beginning. We look forward to continuing to challenge ourselves to find new ways to improve the lives of others.”

Community members can learn more about Filling in the Blanks’ mobile pantry, other programs, and all the ways to get involved at fillingintheblanks.org.

Filling in the Blanks is deeply committed to its mission to fight local childhood hunger by filling critical gaps in support through its innovative food service programs.