The Sebastopol Area Time Bank may be the answer.
- Need help cooking dinners during the week?
- Finishing a project?
- Getting a ride occasionally?
- Don't have much money?
Starting October 2, the Sebastopol Area Time Bank will open for new members.
This all-volunteer, grassroots initiative sponsored by Cittaslow Sebastopol and the City of Sebastopol, assists Sebastopol residents in securing services they need or want without having to spend dollars. Instead, members provide services for each other in exchange for "Time Bank Hours."
One hour of work is worth one Time Bank Hour.
Time banking is not bartering. Two individuals do not need to exchange with each other. Instead, think of Time Bank Hours as an alternate currency.
For instance, Randy needed help hauling away some wood that was piled up in her yard. She posted a request in the time bank and Kent stepped forward to help. He earned 6 Time Bank Hours for his 6 hours of work.
Kent, in turn, needed help getting easy weekday meals prepared ahead of time. Terri loves to cook so she offered to roast a turkey and made several dinners that Kent and his family were able to pull out of the freezer whenever time was short. Kent bought the food and "paid" Terri for her time in Time Bank Hours.
Terri needed help finishing a bench she had started in a class. She put out a request and Jeff, a carpenter member, helped her finish it by working with her in his workshop at home. (In this case, Terri didn't want him to do it for her. She simply needed someone knowledgeable to walk her through the remaining steps and give her tips as she learned. Not a skill one could readily hire.)
Building Community One Hour at a Time
These are just a few examples of exchanges that took place during Cittaslow Sebastopol's pilot Time Bank Study last spring.
Many participants commented on the community-building aspect. For instance, Randy Johnson observed, "Just being involved in the Time Bank study made me feel more involved in the community. I really liked that connection."
Diverse talents!
Others noticed there is a surprising amount that they can do to earn Time Bank Hours. "I have more skills than I realized," says Time Banker Marie Bhavani Torelli. "When you start hearing what other people are sharing as skills, you think, 'I have those skills as well.' I guess I'd say it's a confidence builder."
Everyone is equally valued
With a time bank, there is no income inequality! Everyone has something to offer. Everyone has value. Everyone's work is equal: One hour of work = One Time Bank Hour.
The services people want, or choose to offer, are frequently unconventional.
Many are quite fun.
For instance:
Orientation meetings
- Want to milk a cow once a month?
- Care to teach someone to crochet?
- Like to wrap gifts? (You'll be busy during the holidays!)
The Sebastopol Area Time Bank will be holding several orientation meetings in October. Some will be during the day, some at night, some on the weekend, some during the weekday. Beginning in November, this will change to only one orientation a month.
For More Information
Go to sebastopoltimebank.org or contact [email protected].
The Sebastopol Area Time Bank is sponsored by Cittaslow Sebastopol and the City of Sebastopol