Imagine lunchrooms where every student feels welcome, included, and valued. For grades 5-8.
Imagine lunchrooms where every student feels welcome, included, and valued. For grades 5-8.
Foster new connections that begin at lunchtime and last all year. The No One Eats Alone® (NOEA) program fights social isolation with engaging, student-led connection activities and lessons. The program targets the unique developmental needs of grade 5-8 students, who often struggle with social skills and belonging, especially in the lunchroom.
No One Eats Alone was identified by former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy as an effective peer-led program that helps build self-esteem and social connections.
Used on its own or paired with the Start With Hello program, No One Eats Alone can be a valuable component of your Tier 1 (Universal) programming in a Multi-Tiered Implementations and Supports (MTSS) or Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) framework. Implementation is easy for staff and fun for students.
The No One Eats Alone program can be used to celebrate No One Eats Alone Day in February, or at any time during the school year. The program combines interactive lessons, art projects, and peer leadership units to help students understand and respect differences, find common ground, connect with and stand up for their classmates. Digital program materials include:
Attend an implementation workshop for Trusted Adults on how to support students and identify student leaders running your No One Eats Alone Day events.
Use the NOEA Student Leader Guide to train your student leader group on the goals and objectives for your No One Eats Alone Day.
Engage your school or organization by facilitating the provided lessons on social isolation and social connection. Promote your NOEA Day events with posters, announcements, and reminders.
Celebrate connection at lunch by implementing the program on national No One Eats Alone Day in February, or another date of your choosing.
Evaluate results and consider expanding the program to new grades, schools, or district-wide:
The No One Eats Alone program was created to honor the legacy of Lili Rachel Smith. Her life sparked the movement to raise awareness about social isolation and promote school-based solutions.
Since 2017, The Centene Foundation has sponsored No One Eats Alone Day each February. Their generous support has made it possible for thousands of schools across the country to foster social connection in lunchrooms through community-building activities.
Every year, the Foundation distributes a limited amount of these activity materials in a Belonging Box to make celebrating NOEA Day even easier.
Explore No One Eats Alone through a sampling of our program materials.
The how-to guide for student leaders to plan and organize No One Eats Alone Day activities.
Ice-breaking discussion prompts for lunch tables, helping students to connect with someone new.
A 5th-6th grade lesson to help students develop their language to describe social isolation.
To learn more about bringing No One Eats Alone, our School Climate and Safety programs, or any other Sandy Hook Promise programs and services to your school, district, or community, please submit the form below.
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