As an employee of The Timberland Company, I am one of thousands of dedicated, civic-minded individuals who use our service hours to give back to our global community.

We do not share our stories often -- whether because of our humble approach to service for the sake of service, or because at some level it's hard to believe one small difference is sufficient enough to share. But after a recent read of Bill Shore's The Cathedral Within where he talks about the value of sharing stories to inspire, invigorate and illuminate the need for social justice, I want to try.

We read about refugees in far-off places like Darfur -- escaping unimaginable violence and hatred of humanity. At the same time, we have needy people in our own backyards who are refugees of a sort: everyday Americans lacking food, education and other basic services, longing for a safe and healthy environment to live and raise their families.

In July a group of about 50 women took up our packs, put on our hiking boots, swallowed a good dose of inner strength and a handful of gorp and trekked across the White Mountains of New Hampshire as part of a fundraiser called Wilderness Heals. This annual event benefits the Elizabeth Stone House -- a Boston-based nonprofit for victims of domestic and emotional violence. The organization raised over $100k (and still counting) through this event. It also provided an opportunity for participants to reconnect with the beauty of our "Whites", to bond with like-minded women and for we Timberland employees, an chance to use some of our 40 (yes, forty!) annual service hours provided by the company to give back to our communities. The "Stone House" had a fire earlier this week that wiped out 9 residences. When Timberland's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) team heard of the tragedy, they immediately initiated a grant to try to help. While all residents are safe and secure, this tragic event calls out even more powerfully how much need there is all over the world for resources, time, service and support -- so many times, right next door.

So finally, a challenge...to the reading audience, corporate and social leaders, and perhaps most of all to my fellow Timberland employees:

Serve.

We don't have to single-handedly change the world to make a difference. For the small difference the hikers made on that mountain range to the women and children at the Elizabeth Stone House, it was certainly worth the time spent training for the hike and sending out unabashed requests for donations from friends and family. We didn't change the world...but we did help in a small way to give one more day of safe refuge to a number of proud, strong, beautiful women and children who otherwise would not have a home.

This year, Timberland will pass the 500,000 hour mark for service in our communities.

Imagine what could happen if all corporations provided service hours to their employees.