Tuesdays Are Better Together!
You may have seen cute t-shirts worn around town, some with peanut butter and jam, salt and pepper, or milk and cookies on the front. Why you ask? Because these things are better together!
These t-shirts are also part of an important community project called Better Together. This initiative was formed after Allysa Woodrow and the Battlefords area experienced significant loss and tragedy in 2018 with eight deaths by suicide in seven weeks–five of the losses were youth under the age of 22, and three were senior citizens over the age of 55.
It was during these difficult times that Allysa Woodrow asked the question, “what if we could connect the bookend generations?” which spurred her on to create the idea of the “Better Together” t-shirts, with “Together Tuesdays” following a little later. Since she launched this idea, every Tuesday, participants throughout Saskatchewan and beyond have begun to build friendships and work together on deeper community connections.
Most recently, after learning about Better Together through her daughter-in-law, Marge Bailey brought the idea to her church leadership group suggesting it was something they should get involved in.
After chatting with the provincial coordinator Deb McNabb via Zoom and then holding their first Better Together Sunday on June 5th, the group developed a better understanding of the initiative and decided it was something they wanted to promote within the community. Together the group took their idea to the town, where the council unanimously declared Better Together Tuesdays in Kindersley.
“We really are better together,” said Marge Bailey, the group’s coordinator. “It’s all about showing we care for one another and opening up conversations. When we start to give to others, even just a smile, it changes our day for the better and that is what we are encouraging.”
By wearing the Better Together t-shirt, it shows that person is open to having a conversation, even something as simple as chatting about your day. By beginning these conversations, the group aims to improve mental health, deepen our mutual understandings, improve feelings of well-being, decrease loneliness, and enhance social cohesion, because a connected community is a healthy community!
Most recently, on August 14th, the Better Together group went around to various Kindersley businesses sharing information about this initiative and what it means for our community.
Afterwards, everyone returned to Baker Park where there was a bouncy castle and a BBQ. Burgers, hot dogs, Better Together cookies, chips and drinks were available for purchase, with all proceeds going towards a community “Better Together” Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Workshop later in the year.
The group also plans to be part of this year’s Goose Festival, where they will participate in the parade and have other activities planned that will provide a chance to chat, all in the hope this will further build connections within the community.
Remember, next time you see someone with a picture of something like ketchup and mustard on their shirt, say hi! and start opening up those all-important lines of communication.
If you would like to purchase a Better Together t-shirt you can visit https://www.alloutgd.
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