Timebanking: Connect with Your Community and Get Something in Return

Ever wanted to learn how to play the guitar but just can't afford it? Or maybe you need a babysitter to watch your kids for an hour after school in exchange for helping a neighbor with her garden? Redmond is excited to launch an innovative program known as the Eastside Timebank.

Timebanking is similar to bartering where you provide a service in exchange for a different service that you would like to receive. Each member of the timebank donates time doing something he or she is good at— house painting, haircuts, dog walking—and in return can receive the same number of hours of services from any other member. That is one of the ways it is different than bartering, the "currency" in timebanking is time – 1 hour of your work can be exchanged for 1 hour from another member, regardless of the service. For example, a member may trade an hour of dog walking for an hour of computer assistance.
An online database makes it easy to keep track of these "trades" and see what skills and services other community members have to offer in exchange for what you can offer.

Joining the Eastside Timebank requires completing an application, agreeing to a background check, and attending an orientation. The Eastside Timebank started last fall as a pilot in Kirkland and is now expanding to include residents from Bellevue and Redmond. A number of organizations partnered together to launch the Eastside Timebank, including Hopelink, the cities of Redmond, Kirkland, and Bellevue, and other community representatives, with funding also provided by United Way of King County for the pilot and initial launch.
The Eastside Timebank is holding an informational meeting open to all on March 31st, 7:00-8:00 pm, at the North Bellevue Community Center, at 4063 148th Ave. NE in Bellevue. You are welcome to bring children to the presentation.
For more information on the Eastside Timebank, including how to join and upcoming events, please visit the website: www.eastsidetimebank.org.

"My wife and I had a member come by and give us some great pointers on how to better train our dog. I was able to help another member...with some windows that needed washing. It was a win-win for all of us." -- Kirkland resident