Thousands of schools across the United States recently participated in National No One Eats Alone Day, an initiative aimed at ending social isolation among students. The program is led by Sandy Hook Promise and received support in Kentucky from WellCare of Kentucky, a managed care organization that is part of Centene Corporation.
WellCare of Kentucky partnered with the Centene Foundation to provide educational materials and art supplies for the event at no cost to participating Kentucky schools. These resources were used to facilitate activities designed to help students connect with one another and foster a sense of belonging.
Nicole Hockley, co-founder of Sandy Hook Promise, said: “Social isolation harms children both physically and mentally in terms of detrimental health impacts – some of which can be long-term – and it’s also a major risk factor and warning sign for extreme situations like self-harm and violence. The power of personal connections is profoundly transformative, and that’s what’s so special about No One Eats Alone Day. Simple acts of kindness have the power to pull kids back from the brink – not only saving lives but changing them for the better. That’s why we are so honored to partner with the Centene Foundation in this incredibly important mission to protect kids. By working together, we can create safer, healthier futures for children throughout our nation.”
This year marked the seventh consecutive year that WellCare supported National No One Eats Alone Day in Kentucky. A total of 151 schools participated statewide, reaching 64,000 students.
At the Academy at Shawnee in Louisville, Pro Football Hall of Famer Anthony Muñoz addressed 800 students during an assembly on topics including bullying and self-esteem as part of their No One Eats Alone Day events.
A recent study by the World Health Organization found that teenagers experiencing loneliness were more likely to receive lower grades. The research also identified links between social isolation and increased risks for stroke, heart disease, depression, and thoughts related to self-harm or suicide. Conversely, greater social connection was associated with improved physical and mental health outcomes.
Participating schools received Belonging Boxes containing lesson plans about social isolation as well as tools for building student connections. Each box included leadership guides, conversation starters for meeting new classmates, and materials for an art project called Connect the Dots. All materials were provided free-of-charge in both English and Spanish.
Corey Ewing, CEO and Plan President for WellCare of Kentucky stated: “Social isolation has been identified as a precursor to bullying, self-harm, and community violence. WellCare is sponsoring the program because when students are given the appropriate tools, they will stand up for others as empathetic and caring activists, not passive bystanders.”
The No One Eats Alone initiative began in Northern California in 2012 through Beyond Differences before becoming part of Sandy Hook Promise in September 2024. In 2025 alone, more than 3,100 Belonging Boxes reached over 1.5 million students nationwide on National No One Eats Alone Day.
More information about National No One Eats Alone Day can be found here: Click here for additional information
Photographs from this year’s events are available at https://www.flickr.com/gp/couragemedia/k2C6W8vYUS
The Centene Foundation supports projects addressing healthcare access, social services, education initiatives targeting underserved communities; further details are available on its website.
Sandy Hook Promise works nationally to prevent school violence through educational programs focused on recognizing warning signs among youth who may be socially isolated or at risk.
WellCare of Kentucky provides managed care services through Medicaid and Medicare plans across Kentucky; additional information is available at wellcareky.com.
