Local Nonprofit ‘Filling in the Blanks’ To Host Sixth Annual Gala on Sept. 27

A local nonprofit organization serving children in need is set to host its major annual gala next month.

Plates with a Purpose. Jen Lynne Photography

On Sept. 27, Filling in the Blanks will host its Sixth Annual Plates with Purpose Gala at the Italian Center in Stamford.

The purpose of the gala is to raise funds to continue the organization’s mission of fighting child hunger in local communities.

“The gala is our largest fundraising event of the year, and it brings in a significant amount of money that goes straight to providing the weekend meals to the children,” FITB Special Events Coordinator Jennifer Moran said.

Currently, Filling in the Blanks serves 10,000 children on food assistance weekly throughout Fairfield, Westchester and Putnam counties by providing weekend meals, Moran said.

In addition, the organization provides food to families through its ‘mobile food pantry,’ founder Tina Kramer said.

Plates with a Purpose. Jen Lynne Photography

“We launched the mobile food pantry in October of 2023 and it provides around 1,500 families every month with food, fresh produce, dairy, proteins and more,” she said. “The mobile pantry really has become more of a community event, and it kind of resembles a farmer’s market.”

The pantry also helps families meet other needs such as medical check-ups, diapers, wipes and information on mental health, founder Shawnee Knight said.

“We have a very captive audience who need other services besides food, and so we’re bringing all the services directly to them in this one spot,” Kramer said. 

Shonda Rhimes, who funded and launched the mobile pantry, will receive the “Philanthropist of the Year Award” at the gala. Rhimes is the creator of “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Scandal” and “Private Practice.” 

Filling in the Blanks fulfills its mission by getting food directly into the hands of the children, Knight said.

“We partner with schools, community centers and camps so parents don’t have to take time off work,” she said. “We get the food right to the kids every Friday. Distributing the fresh produce and food through the mobile pantry really helps feed a lot of the community members that are in need.”

Plates with a Purpose. Jen Lynne Photography

And that need is growing, Kramer said. 

“We had anticipated reaching 10,000 students by the end of 2025, but we reached that mark in March of 2025, much earlier than anticipated,” she said. “So by the end of 2025 we will probably be helping around 11,000 kids.”

Kramer added, “We will continue to grow as the community grows and we will also shape our vision as we learn about different ways the community needs our help. We still stay with our mission of providing food, but we’re also helping to provide other services.”

Kramer said that “with all of the federal funding cuts, we anticipate seeing a rise with food costs. So we do anticipate that our services are going to be more needed than ever.”

Tickets to the gala can be purchased here. To donate to filling in the blanks, click here.