Earth Keeper

I recently has the opportunity to volunteer at the United We Stand Garden in the Bronx at a day of service sponsored by Timberland. in conjunction with GrowNYC. Every year, Timberland host a number of service events that their employees can participate in (during work hours!) as part of their company commitment to giving back and protecting the environment. At this event, affiliates were invited to attend- and that is how I ended up there. We kicked off a service goal they have of creating green spaces all over the country equivalent to the store square footage in each state.

My team filled garden boxes with dirt, which was no small feat! Other teams built the boxes, picnic benches, moved mulch and stones. There was a job for every skill level. It was a nice change to work outdoors and know that I was contributing to the health of the city in more ways that one. Through out the day, Timberland provided water, sunscreen, and catered the event. I definitely envy the timberland employees, who get 40 hours every year to do community service projects all over the country. This is something I hope more and more fashion companies will adopt- a community service initiative. The more inline it is with their brand and product, the better. Fashion has such a critical role to play in leading the way for sustainable products in the market place and a long way to go in providing workplaces that reflect our modern times. Not just by purveying sustainable made items, but also by making them desirable and attracting talented young employees.