Guest speaker Deb McNabb speaks to Hillmond Central School students about being ‘better together’ during her visit to the school on Nov. 7.
In 2018, Deb McNabb and Allysa Woodrow found themselves in a tragic situation when they lost several members of their North Battleford community to suicide.
From these tremendous losses, a new initiative was born that has seen exponential growth.
“We had eight losses in seven weeks to suicide. Five under the age of 22, three over the age of 55,” said McNabb, adding she officiated five of those services as a community pastor in North Battleford.
“I realized at that time our community is grieving in huge ways, and as a leader, I was grieving. I noticed in those services there was a Grade 11 student that was either an honour guard, pallbearer or reader at those services, and I found out who she was.”
She was Allysa Woodrow, who is now the co-founder of the Better Together T-shirt initiative. McNabb reached out to Allysa’s mom, knowing she would need extra support, and during their conversations they decided they needed to do something to connect their two generations–those under 22 and those over 55.
“We knew those on the front curve of life need encouragement and those on the back curve of life needed to be reminded they still matter, so we created together Tuesdays,” said McNabb, adding they decided to create t-shirts with food items that go together, such as milk and cookies, salt and pepper, bacon and eggs.
“I said to her ‘I don’t know if my 93-year-old granny will wear that shirt’ and she said ‘They’ll wear them to keep me alive’ and I said ‘I’d wear anything to keep you alive’. We dressed 150 kids under 22, and 150 seniors over the age of 55,” McNabb recalled.
“We threw them together on a Tuesday. As they looked for their match, they started building connections and community.”
From that first Tuesday, the growth has been tremendous.
“We saw it morph, in three months from 150 seniors and 150 kids—300 shirts, to 6,000 people wearing them. Today, over 60,000 people wear our shirts around the world. And our message continues to go forward—that connected communities are healthy communities. We’re better together,” said McNabb, adding that’s the message she brings with her to Hillmond Central School.
“Today is the launch of ‘better together’ Tuesdays, making the proclamation that every Tuesday for the remainder of the school year is ‘better together’ Tuesday. Students wear their shirts as a way to connect with others—both in their school, in their community,” said Hillmond Central School community council representative, Julie Hougham.
“The ‘better together’ program emphasizes intergenerational connections, already building on some awesome things that are happening at the school: pen-pal program and the gift of Christmas, giving to seniors, and different times where we have community members come to the school to connect and give back to the students,” she said, adding they are very honoured to have McNabb come in and speak to the students.
“I’m really excited to be in Hillmond today. Our kids are all ambassadors. Their voice matters. They know what it means to encourage one another, to build each other up,” she said, adding it wouldn’t be possible without sponsors like the RM of Britannia, who funded t-shirts for the staff and students of Hillmond school.
“I know within school systems the budgets are tight, and if community can see the value of their kids we see great things happen.”
