The York Time Bank is a mutual aid platform which enables community members to share skills and services with other community members, based on each person’s unique abilities.
Every hour you spend sharing a skill or performing a service for another time bank member (or member organization, or community project listed in the time bank) can be logged on the platform as a “time credit.” You can then exchange your time credits with other members for their skills and services.
It’s a little like using time as a currency, but it’s so much more than that — time banking makes the whole community more resilient. Especially in times of economic instability, because it makes it easier to share valuable skills throughout the community without having to use money or barter.
So for example, if you gave a member a sewing lesson for an hour, and volunteered for an hour at a community garden for a member organization, you’d have two time credits.
You’d log the time you spent on the time bank platform (York.timebanks.org) and they’d be available to exchange with other members offering their services.
You could use them to get an hour of yoga instruction and an hour of help putting together Ikea furniture, or two hours of help painting, or any other skills offered by other members.
Time banking is good for you, and good for the community. If you’re not already a member of the York Time Bank, you can join here: York.timebanks.org
In addition to individual exchanges, the York Time Bank organizes group and public projects, like the Penn Street Art Bridge, a public art space formed in the summer of 2017 on the walls at the end of Penn Street with the support of then-Mayor Kim Bracey.
The art bridge project transformed an ongoing vandalism issue into a vibrant outdoor street art gallery and community asset. Now, anyone can legally paint on the Penn Street Art Bridge without prior permission or approval or risk of arrest.
Visit PennStreetArtBridge.com to learn more about the project. Visit the facebook page here to see some of the recent artwork by talented local artists.
If you are a member of a community group working to make York better for everyone, please reach out — we would love to get your group set up with the time bank!
Hi what a great idea! Our homeschool group was just pondering a similar idea exchanging mentorships for kids and adults. Small business owners or people that are good at something can teach others who want to learn.I forwarded the info to them. Thanks!
I’ve been thinking to contact homeschooling networks about this. Milissa, can you contact me at Sonnewald Natural Foods?
Yea! Glad to hear positive feedback! Thank you! And please do share with anyone you think would be interested. The more people involved, the better this will work!
I read about Ithaca hours years ago and thought it would be a great idea for York. And, here you’ve done it! Good on you 😀
Yeah! Welcome!!! 🙂
I love the new look of the cover page! Great things are happening in the York County Timebank!
Looking to join your group ….my friend Laura Shaffer from church joined and I am interested!
Great! I just approved your application! Welcome!! 🙂
Glad you joined Rick! 🙂
Our next meeting is coming up on Monday January 13th at 7:00pm (Potluck at 6:00pm) at the Community Health Improvement Office-605 South George Street in York.
See you there!
Want to become member
Hi Kim!
We are glad to have your interest! You can click on the “Join Us” link and follow the steps to membership-OR you can come to our next meeting on Monday at 7:00pm at the Community Health Improvement Office at 605 S. George Street in York and we can help you with your membership there.
Thanks!
Erin
I hope to join!
Hi Mary,
We are glad to have your interest! You can click on the “Join Us” link on the website and follow the steps to membership-OR you can come to our next meeting on Monday, 3-9-15, at 7:00pm at the Community Health Improvement Office at 605 S. George Street in York and we can help you with your membership there.
Thanks!
I would enjoy being apart of this team effort of Helping Hands in York
Hi Katona,
If you click on the join link on the home page, and follow the directions to sign up for the Time Bank, I think that is the most direct way to become part of the team effort. There is a meeting at 7 pm on Thursday May 12, at the Quaker Meetinghouse, 135 West Philadelphia St., York if you would rather come meet some time bankers in person before signing up, and they can help you with the sign up process and answer any questions you have about how the time bank works.
Thanks for your interest!
I run local girl scout Daisy (soon to be brownie) troop. This would be a great way to find out information and ways for the girls to give back. 🙂
I hope you can make the May 12 meeting at the Quaker Meetinghouse so we can talk about how that could benefit everyone!