Sandy Hook Promise and Centene Foundation Help Students Connect with Their Classmates
NEWTOWN, Conn.– Friday the 13th will be a lucky day for students at thousands of schools across the country who celebrate National No One Eats Alone® Day, a program of Sandy Hook Promise created to end social isolation and help students get to know one another, so that every student feels like they belong. Thanks to the ongoing partnership with the Centene Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC), National No One Eats Alone Day is observed on February 13, 2026, with curriculum and art project materials provided at no charge.
More than 867,000 California students from 1,155 schools are registered to participate in No One Eats Alone Day activities this year. Nationwide, more than 4,800 schools have registered to participate, reaching nearly 3 million students.
According to a recent study by the World Health Organization, teenagers who felt lonely were 22 percent more likely to receive lower grades in school. Loneliness and social isolation were cited with direct correlation to an increased risk of stroke, heart disease, depression, and thoughts of self-harm or suicidal ideation. The same study also linked social connection to improved physical and mental health.
“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,” said Nicole Hockley, co-founder of Sandy Hook Promise. “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.”
Participating schools will receive a free Belonging Box, which includes in-class lesson plans on social isolation and actionable steps to cultivate belonging. The Belonging Box also contains a student leadership guide, conversation starters to help students connect with someone new, and materials for Connect the Dots, an innovative art project that helps students share things about themselves and learn more about their classmates. All student-facing materials are available in English and Spanish. All Belonging Boxes are provided at no charge to schools.
“We are proud that Sandy Hook Promise and school leaders all over the country are joining together to plan No One Eats Alone Day,” said Joyce Larkin, head of the Centene Foundation. “Through this collaborative effort, we will reach millions of students around the country, helping to combat social isolation and creating a sense of belonging for everyone.”
No One Eats Alone Day was launched in a handful of schools in Northern California in 2012 by the nonprofit Beyond Differences, which became part of Sandy Hook Promise in September 2024. In 2025, Sandy Hook Promise sent more than 3,100 Belonging Boxes to schools in all 50 states, reaching over 1.5 million students on National No One Eats Alone Day. For more information, sandyhookpromise.org.
