Share skills. Feel good. Strengthen Community.

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.

PHONE food-2940553_960_720Every 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.

planting-865294_960_720It’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.

Sew Mask drape-5068123_960_720So 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.  Ikea-handyman-3546192_960_720

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.

painting - trend-color-3998739_960_720Time 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. artbridgesign

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.

artbridgeBobRossVisit 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!

 

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18 thoughts on “Share skills. Feel good. Strengthen Community.

  1. Milissa Shultz says:

    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!

  2. Joli Harrington says:

    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 😀

  3. Erin says:

    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!

    • yorkcountytimebank says:

      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

    • yorkcountytimebank says:

      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!

    • yorkcountytimebank says:

      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!

  4. Bianca Gonzalez says:

    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. 🙂

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