Everyone gets lonely sometimes. One FGCU professor realized elementary school lunch should not be the time for children to experience that and took initiative for change. 

The No Kid Eats Alone program at Colonial Elementary School was started by Courtney Dwyer-Satkoski, who is involved in nonprofits, teaching service-based classes, and advising organizations such as Global Medical Brigades. Dwyer-Satkoski is largely responsible for the initiative and handles most of the coordination and day-to-day operations for the program. 

“That school was chosen by me because it is an underserved school and we wanted to make sure the narrative for those kids are the same narrative as kids that are closer to the university so they can think that going to college is something that’s an option for all students, regardless of socio-economic status.” Dwyer-Satkoski said. “A lot of my students will go in, like a student athlete, play an instrument or in the honors college and they make college relatable for a kid.” 

Dwyer-Satkoski started this program because of a little boy she met there who was alone. She decided to do something about it to make progress toward no one eating alone. 

“It really inspired me because I was hearing some of the negative talk from kids and the self-doubt that they had and it broke my heart,” Dwyer-Satkoski said.  “I would go and bring him lunch and sit with him and talk to him and mostly just listen and then from that I thought this would be a great opportunity and at that particular school those kids are often exposed to things that other schools aren’t.” 

Colonial Elementary is a Title 1 school and issues like bullying, exclusion, and insecurity affect the student body. Dwyer-Satkoski’s sister, Lindsey Dwyer is the school counselor at Colonial Elementary and brought attention to the decline of the students’ mental health which is pervasive at the school.

Dwyer highlights how the program has made a difference in students’ lives. 

“We’re also a United Way Community partnership school so our needs are very high. Our students are all on free lunch, free breakfast, so their needs are typically not met when they get to school,” Dwyer said. “That’s when we see a lot of behavioral concerns, so having FGCU students involved, it really just brings a light to their lunch period and they’re able to come in and they’re able to make that connection, talk to them, and what they want to do with their future.” 

No One Eats Alone Day is what inspired the No Kid Eats Alone program, it is a celebration that is recommended by the U.S. Surgeon General to encourage and give students social connections which is harder now as technology impacts children’s ability to interact with each other. 

Conversation and companionship changes children’s lives, especially in schools like Colonial Elementary. Dwyer gives an example of a student named Anthony that was impacted as a  result of  the program.

“We started when he was in kindergarten, and he is now in 6th grade and his ultimate goal is now to go to University of Florida and play football. 

The program is enjoyed by both FGCU students and the children alike and the program only continues to grow after each event. It happens around twice a semester and students interested should email Courtney Dwyer-Satkoski at [email protected].