ONE DAY, A COMMUNITY TRANSFORMED – SERVAPALOOZA 2018

Timberland employee using a power saw at a work site while volunteering.

Every fall, we step outside, work together, and make our communities better during our global Serv-a-palooza event. This event provides tremendous relief to communities in need around the world. At our global headquarters in Stratham, NH employees were eager to pull on their boots and make a difference in the city of Manchester.

2018 Serv-a-palooza | Timberland

Every fall, we step outside, work together, and make our communities better during out global Serv-a-palooza event. Employees from 19 different countries pulled on their boots to make a difference. Here in the US, volunteers tackled 6 different sites this year. From giving away 460 boots to elementary students, to repainting 51 houses, communities were impacted greatly. Timberland is determined to be a force for good and this annual event is one step closer.

Volunteers were not afraid to get their boots dirty at Serv-a-palooza this year. They tackled projects like painting 51+ houses, building a patio for Veterans, gifting 460 students with new shoes and creating a brand-new teacher’s lounge. These projects and more took place in the city of Manchester, all of which impacted people in need.

460 STUDENTS GIFTED WITH TIMBERLAND BOOTS

One of our sites was the Gossler Elementary School. Here, we held a “Footprints Fair” gifting 460 students with a new pair of Timberland boots, backpack, books, and socks. We did not stop there, we gave a facelift to the teacher’s lounge, painted murals all over the school, and painted pavement games and murals outside to bring color and positive energy to the space. One of the volunteers said, “We had a student stop us in the gym and said it was great day for a new pair of boots because his shoe just broke.”

Timberland employee in yellow boots crouching down in a garden.

Timberland employee inspecting a handful of string beans from the victory garden.

GIVING BACK TO VETERANS

We served at the Manchester VA Medical Center, where we built a large patio, handicap accessible garden beds, and spread over 40 yards of mulch. In addition to this, we spent quality time with Veterans over yard games and lunch. Debra Krinskey from the Manchester VA Medical Center expressed her gratitude for Timberland, “the Veterans will be able to enjoy the new patio for their weekly BBQs and for their therapy as well. “Timberland is just in it whole-heartedly, to give back to veterans”, said Debra.

Timberland employee kneeling down to harvest vegetables.

Timberland employee with cucumbers and tomatoes picked from the garden.

TEACHERS GET A BREAK(room)

At the Beech Street School, volunteers teamed up to give the deserving teachers a brand-new lounge. We spent time with these elementary students by reading stories to them and building picnic tables with them. Not only did we spend time with the students, but we worked together to help paint the halls of this school and bring color into the school. “They are making a climate change in our school, they are giving back to a community that really does deserve it,” a teacher from Beech Street School expressed about the volunteers.

Timberland employee holding a tray full of fresh-picked tomatoes.

TEACH A GIRL TO BUILD, AND YOU CAN EMPOWER HER FOR LIFE.

We went to Girls at Work to help prepare for the coming school year. At Girls at Work, girls in the Manchester community are empowered to learn woodworking skills after school and feel confident in what they have accomplished. We helped cut wood for the coming school year as well as created a mural in the woodworking shop. While Elaine was telling us how much we have impacted Girls at Work, a school bus drove by and the children started chanting, “Timberland! Timberland! Timberland!” At this moment, we all realized how much of an impact we had in this community.

Basket sitting in the grass, filled with fresh-picked veggies and fruits.

A NEIGHBORHOOD REVAMPED

A couple blocks over from Girls at Work, we spruced up the surrounding neighborhood where some of the girls who go to Girls at Work live and play. Volunteers painted over 51 houses, painted and beautified a well-loved playground, as well as an indoor basketball court, where the kids in this neighborhood play. Kids got out of school while volunteers were still painting the playground, and one of the little boys screamed “Thank you!”

Timberland employee walking on the garden wall, holding a tray full of fresh-picked veggies.

A COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER TO GARDEN

A little farther down the street we helped enhance the Rooting for Families Community Garden. We weeded, cleared the nature trail, as well as built a shed. This space gives families who have just moved to the city of Manchester the chance to participate in agriculture and work with other community members to keep this garden up and running. “One of the things that they have allowed people to do with the space here, is specifically for the new immigrant population in Manchester, to have a space and get a start on their life here, grow food, and create a welcoming environment,” a Timberland volunteer states.

Not only did the employees at the Global Headquarters work together to make it better, but employees in 19 countries, including Vietnam, Italy, Wales, will step outside and give back to their communities throughout the months of September and October. We were so happy to be able to impact these deserving sites in the Manchester community. This festival of serving was the perfect opportunity to carry out our new brand purpose, “We Inspire and Equip the World to Step Outside, Work Together and Make it Better.”