Joe Donofrio was the featured speaker at Friday’s meeting of Arcadia Rotary. His topic was “Time Bank” and Joe went on to describe what is “Time Bank” and how it is a tool for people to help one another and those that are disabled. Foothill Utility, not to be confused with the Foothill Unity Center, is a service organization in the San Gabriel Valley to help disabled persons, and better service the community. Mr. Donofrio’s web site is jdonofrio@choicess.com and he can also be reached by mail at 135 E. Live Oak, Suite 104, Arcadia, CA 91006.
“Time Bank” or, Time Exchange, is described as a community of people who support each other by exchanging performing a task, or services. Members of the organization use a web-based system to list what they want to give and receive. A time bank or time exchange account is created for participants. The account can be used to keep track of what goes in and goes out of the account.
As explained, it works this way, when a contributor spends an hour, for example, doing something for an individual or group, an hour is earned. That hour then can be used to receive an hour’s time for a neighbor, or other contributor, to perform some task for another person. Hours can be banked in any type of community work. Ultimately, contributors get to know neighbors and become part of an extended ‘family’ of committed individuals in the community. The whole idea is sharing.
Examples of the type of service hours that can be banked or used are: Child Care, Shopping, Massage, Eldercare, Tutoring, Office assistance, Language translation, Minor home repair, Errands, Car repair, Arts and Crafts, Moving Assistance, Garden and Yard Work, and many, many other tasks. Donofrio used an example of fruit picking of how to time bank. Contributors could come to a person’s property, pick fruit and then donate the fruit to a charitable cause. The hours doing this work could be banked and then used for some other needed work.
The founded of TimeBanks, USA, is Edgar S. Cahn, who started this giving activity in 1987. The website for the international Time Bank organization is www.timebanks.org. An introductory meeting can be arranged through the TC Time Bank, who can provide a speaker to introduce time banking to an organization, or group of friends Currently, the TC Time Exchange is seeking new members from the Temple City area and surrounding communities. Thus, not only individuals, but organizations can volunteer hours, or works in our area. Ultimately, the goal is for people to help one another to better the community.
There is a cost to do time banking. Members have to determine how to pay for the use of the Community Weaver software and to cover organizational costs. It is hoped that donors will provide the funding to cover some or all of the costs.