Kentucky Students Create a Culture of Belonging on National No One Eats Alone Day

Sandy Hook Promise and WellCare of Kentucky Help Students Connect with Their Classmates

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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Thousands of schools across Kentucky celebrated National No One Eats Alone® Day, a program led by Sandy Hook Promise created to end social isolation and help students get to know one another, so that every student feels like they belong. WellCare of Kentucky, a leading managed care organization, and a company of Centene Corporation, worked with local schools to support this program that helps students connect.

Why it matters

Social isolation harms children both physically and mentally, 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.

The details

Across Kentucky, 151 schools and 64,000 students participated in No One Eats Alone Day. A special guest speaker, Pro Football Hall of Famer Anthony Muñoz, spoke about important topics such as bullying and self-esteem during a schoolwide assembly of 800 students at the Academy at Shawnee in Louisville. Participating schools received a free Belonging Box, which included in-class lesson plans on social isolation and actionable steps to cultivate belonging.

  • National No One Eats Alone® Day was celebrated on February 26, 2026.
  • WellCare of Kentucky has supported National No One Eats Alone Day for the seventh year in a row.

The players

Sandy Hook Promise

A national nonprofit organization whose mission is to educate and empower youth and adults to prevent violence in schools, homes, and communities.

WellCare of Kentucky

A leading managed care organization and a company of Centene Corporation that provides government-sponsored managed care services to families, children, seniors, and individuals with complex needs primarily through Medicaid, Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Plans across the state.

Centene Foundation

The philanthropic arm of Centene Corporation that supports projects and initiatives strategically aligned with Centene's mission-driven culture and enhances the work Centene is doing to remove the barriers to wellness that underserved and low-income populations face.

Anthony Muñoz

A Pro Football Hall of Famer who spoke about important topics such as bullying and self-esteem during a schoolwide assembly of 800 students at the Academy at Shawnee in Louisville as a part of their No One Eats Alone Day.

Corey Ewing

The CEO and Plan President for WellCare of Kentucky.

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What they’re saying

“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.”

— Nicole Hockley, Co-founder of Sandy Hook Promise

“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.”

— Corey Ewing, CEO and Plan President for WellCare of Kentucky

The takeaway

This initiative by Sandy Hook Promise and WellCare of Kentucky demonstrates the power of community-driven programs to address the critical issue of social isolation among students, which can have profound impacts on their physical and mental health. By providing schools with the resources and tools to foster a culture of belonging, these organizations are helping to create safer, more supportive environments for young people across Kentucky.