At its most basic, time banking is about spending an hour doing something for someone in our community and banking it. Each hour banked represents a time dollar to spend having someone doing something for us.

Time banks are built upon the premise that everyone has something to contribute and everyone needs a helping hand now and then. When we ask, “How can we help each other?” we can all get our needs met, whether it’s a ride to school, a trip to the market, yard work or household chores. Sharing resources builds trust and makes life more convenient. It’s like having an extended family that benefits the larger community.

For a directory of existing community time banks and a startup kit to create a time bank to serve a neighborhood, school, church or agency, visit www.TimeBanks.org.