Celebrate No One Eats Alone®
Listed as a top recommendation by the U.S. Surgeon General to create social connection in schools.
February 14, 2025
FUNDED BY:
History of No One Eats Alone Day
The founders of Beyond Differences, Laura and Ace, wanted to create a lunchtime initiative to help students connect so that no one would feel invisible, in honor of their daughter Lili Rachel Smith, who overcame social isolation as a young adult. To learn more about her story, click here.Â
The first NOEA Day was held at Davidson Middle School in Marin County in 2012. Watching how the fun icebreakers led by Beyond Differences’ National Teen Board members and Davidson’s middle school student leaders brought students together was remarkable. The focus was on raising awareness of students sitting alone and encouraging classmates to reach out and include them at their table. Â
Our Impact
Our leading national program, NOEA is a day of action and school-based program that encourages youth to sit with others, find new friends, and model ways to end social isolation in the lunch room.
At a glance:
Our reach focuses on 5th-8th grades, a pivotal time for young people in regards to identity formation and when social isolation can be rampant.
Annually, over 2,500 schools in all 50 states participate in NOEA, reaching over 1,000,000 students.
All of NOEA’s programming is offered at no cost to educators and student leaders.
Read our Annual Report Here
HOW TO
BRING NOEA® DAY
TO YOUR SCHOOL
EDUCATORS – REGISTER FOR FREE!
Sign up now to access our resources and support your students in building belonging and ending social isolation with NOEA 2025.
SHARE AND TEACH LESSONS LEADING UP TO NOEA DAY
Use our thirty-minute lessons or quick Belonging Boosters (accessible on our Curriculum Hub after registration) in your advisories or group counseling sessions to teach students about social isolation and how to create meaningful connections leading up to NOEA Day. Review the Winter Pacing Calendar for guidance on scheduling!
ACTIVATE YOUR NOEA STUDENT LEADERS
Use the NOEA Student Leader Guide (available in English and Spanish in our Curriculum Hub after registration) to help them plan and lead NOEA Day!
ATTEND OUR HOW TO RUN NOEA DAY WORKSHOP ON JANUARY 14TH
Join Beyond Differences Program Directors and high school students from the Mental Health Curriculum team of Beyond Differences National Teen Board in this free 45-minute everything-you-need-to-know webinar! Register here.
CELEBRATE NOEA DAY!
Embrace the moments of new connections amongst your students with the NOEA Day Activities. Continue using other Beyond Differences programs throughout the school year to keep a culture of belonging going.
HOW TO BRING NOEA® DAY
TO YOUR SCHOOL
EDUCATORS - REGISTER FOR FREE!
SHARE AND TEACH LESSONS LEADING UP TO NOEA DAY
Use our thirty-minute lessons or quick Belonging Boosters (accessible on our Curriculum Hub after registration) in your advisories or group counseling sessions to teach students about social isolation and how to create meaningful connections leading up to NOEA Day. Review the Winter Pacing Calendar for guidance on scheduling!
ACTIVATE YOUR NOEA STUDENT LEADERS
Use the NOEA Student Leader Guide (available in English and Spanish in our Curriculum Hub after registration) to help them plan and lead NOEA Day!
ATTEND OUR HOW TO RUN NOEA DAY WORKSHOP ON JANUARY 14th
Join Beyond Differences Program Directors and high school students from the Mental Health Curriculum team of Beyond Differences National Teen Board in this free 45-minute everything-you-need-to-know webinar! Register here.
CELEBRATE NOEA DAY!
Embrace the moments of new connections amongst your students with the NOEA Day Activities. Continue using other Beyond Differences programs throughout the school year to keep a culture of belonging going.
Celebrate with us!
No One Eats Alone Day
Past NOEA Day Celebrations
NOEA Day 2024 at Old North Confluence Academy in St. Louis, MO
NOEA Day 2024 at Crenshaw Middle School in Canton, OH
 NOEA Day 2023 in Teaneck, NJ
 NOEA Day 2023 in Miami, FL
NOEA Day 2018 Beaumont Middle School
NOEA Day 2020 McKinley Elementary School
NOEA Day 2022 George B. LeyVa Middle School
NOEA Day 2023 Ethel Philips Middle School.
NOEA Day 2020 Art Project McKinley Elementary School
NOEA Day 2023 Art Project Ethel Philips Middle School
Testimonials
On No One Eats Alone Day I found that I had a lot of shared interests with my peers and was able to start new friendships through playing the “Find someone who” BINGO game. It was a lot of fun – we focused on ending social isolation by being kind and participating in different activities.
It’s a privilege to watch the impact of NOEA Day because it’s something our students look forward to every year. Our students get to come together and connect through conversations, art projects and student-led activities. As an educator, it’s incredible to see what happens when students take the lead to step up for each other; it’s a really special day for the whole school community.
Celebrate with us!
No One Eats Alone Day
Join schools all across the nation in creating a culture of belonging!
(This map is updated manually each week. If you have already registered for our National No One Eats Alone program and don’t see your school on the list please check back in a few days.)
