Timberland’s Victory Garden Enters Ninth Year of Benefitting the New Hampshire Food Bank

Outside the main entrance of Timberland’s global headquarters in Stratham, N.H., a team of volunteers recently opened the company’s community Victory Garden for its ninth year of growing fresh fruits, vegetables and flowers. The Victory Garden gives employees a chance to get outside during the workday and use their community service hours provided through Timberland’s Path of Service™ program, which gives each employee up to 40 paid hours each year to volunteer in the community.

Since the garden’s inception in 2008, employees have grown fresh, pesticide-free produce, and for the first time, the garden now grows herbs that are used in the employee café. Once harvested, produce is either sold to Timberland employees or is served with healthy food options in the café. All funds raised from sales of the produce are donated directly to the New Hampshire Food Bank. In 2015, the garden raised more than $2,500, the largest contribution yet. Since 2008 the company has raised more than $15,000 for the Food Bank.

Between 25 and 30 employees tend to the Victory Garden each year. Whether it serves as a break from the office norm or a vehicle to engage with the broader employee community, the garden has proven to be a great resource with many benefits. Service in the garden also helps employees earn their membership into the company’s 40s Club, Timberland’s global recognition program for employees who serve all their available 40 service hours in a year. 

“The Victory Garden presents a truly win-win opportunity,” says Ann Caron, a Timberland employee who first launched the garden. “The Food Bank receives donations that greatly benefit the community and employees receive access to the outdoors with the chance to teach and learn about gardening, all while making a difference. The garden is an especially fulfilling service project for me as I’ve seen first-hand the impact that it’s had on our employees and the community alike.”

Timberland has long embraced a heritage to create responsible products, protect the outdoors and serve communities where we live, work and – it’s in the company’s DNA. Employees have become champions for these values and strongly value community service and engagement as part of the Timberland culture. Timberland employees have collectively served over 1 million hours to date and they’re still counting.

To learn more about Timberland’s proactive efforts to make a difference in terms of its products, the outdoors and the communities it serves, visit: https://www.timberland.com/responsibility.html