The following post was shared with us by Juan Rodriguez, the senior HR manager at Timberland’s Recreational Footwear Company (our manufacturing facility located in the Dominican Republic).  Thank you, Juan, for a wonderful story — and pictures — of cross-collaborative service and sharing the best of what we do with Timberland partners and community neighbors alike.

During the first week of October, Timberland invited 23 key customers and franchise partners from Italy and Spain to the Dominican Republic for a special “Timberland experience” – including a visit to both our manufacturing facilities in Santiago, DR and a local tannery, and a day of community service.

Timberland partners get a hands-on lesson in bootmaking in our DR factory

The service day took place in Villa Gonzalez, a town close to the Timberland factory. The project consisted of painting and repairing a basketball court used by the Villa Gonzalez community. In addition to the European visitors, other community members also participated in the activity.

Repairing and repainting the community basketball court

The service day was hot and sunny … but at the end of the afternoon, all of the volunteers had the satisfaction of making a difference for the young people of the community — some of whom were present at the service event, working shoulder to shoulder with the European group and at the end of the day were excited and grateful for the work accomplished.

Earthkeeping volunteers leaving their footprint on the Villa Gonzalez community