'No One Eats Alone Day' At Greenport Schools

GREENPORT, NY — No student should have to eat alone during school lunch period — and a North Fork school is set to shine a light on the issue and make a difference.

"Inclusion is the new cool at Greenport School," the district said, announcing that "No One Eats Alone," a program created by Beyond Differences, will be celebrated by Greenport School on Friday from 10:55 a.m. to 12:24 p.m.

The district will join hundreds of schools nationwide to participate in "No One Eats Alone Day," a program that encourages students not only to sit with classmates they don’t know and get to know them, but also to spot others who might feel left out and include them, said Superintendent David Gamberg in a release.

Beyond Differences provides a backpack to schools including original curriculum for teachers to use in class discussions, icebreaker games to engage students, balloons, wristbands, posters and more — all free.

“Greenport School is excited to participate in National No One Eats Alone Day,” said Karrieann Damon, GPOTV club adviser. “I want to thank Beyond Differences for its tireless efforts to tackle social isolation, an issue which has been ignored for too long."

"Social isolation is a preventable public health crisis affecting millions of children every day who suffer in silence,” Laura Talmus, co-founder and executive director of Beyond Differences, said. “We’ve learned through teachers and families that No One Eats Alone is a powerful step and positive initiative that can change the culture in schools to be a more welcoming place for all.”

No One Eats Alone Day is sponsored by CENTENE Charitable Foundation and GPOTV club.

For more information on the nationwide event, click here.

Patch file photo.