I was told recently that our rural town is lacking in the good ol’ neighborly helpers of yesteryear. I don’t believe this is true. I see helping hands everywhere – carpooling, food donations, renovation help, and childcare, to name a few. However, I don’t doubt that we could do better. Perhaps a grassroots service exchange system could help.
The Kearsarge Time Bank is an exchange of services between people in a community without money, using only time. Time banks strengthen a community by forging connections based on the needs and skills of community members. Everyone has something to contribute, and it is possible to develop and sustain our economy by connecting existing needs with unacknowledged resources.
In the Kearsarge Time Bank, all time is equal, meaning that for every hour of time you donate, you earn an hour to spend on another person’s service. All skills can be traded, and all ages can participate. Members can teach or learn each other’s skills.
The Kearsarge Time Bank can work alongside non-profit organizations, senior care facilities, or through individuals. It’s entirely focused on service exchange within the community.
Time banks strengthen communities by creating new connections between people who live in the same area. Let’s help Andover, and the rest of the Kearsarge area, to develop a new sense of spirit through connectivity!
How can you get involved? Sign up, so you can offer your skills and look for services in return that you need. Some of the many services include:
- Account/business support
- Babysitting
- Car rides
- Cooking lessons
- Gardening
- Handy man
- Health care
- Landscaping
- Language lessons
- Legal assistance
- Massage
- Therapy
- Wood chopping
- Writing
For more information, contact KearsargeTimeBank@nullgmail.com or sign up online at AndoverBeacon.com/Kearsarge-Time-Bank.