Local Time Bank Created for Shared Services

by K. G. Beavers, Messenger Staff Writer

In November, Folks at Home in Sewanee received a $14,973 grant from the Community Fund of the South Cumberland Plateau to develop a Time Bank. The Time Bank will be a way of linking organizations and individuals across the Plateau in need of assistance with providers. 

The vision of the Time Bank is “to promote cohesive communities across the South Cumberland Plateau where people of different ages, backgrounds and abilities interact with each other on an equal footing and with mutual respect and understanding. Time banks value people, their contributions and encourage connections with communities and neighborhoods.” 

Folks at Home is dedicated to helping elderly residents and plans to coordinate and grow the project until it can be operated in the future by a number of organizations. People do not have to be a member of Folks at Home to participate in the Time Bank.

Susan Holmes is the new Time Bank coordinator. Holmes is a 1976 graduate of Sewanee. She also has a public administration degree from the University of Tennessee and a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Vanderbilt University. For more than 20 years, Holmes has been working with nonprofit organizations. As the coordinator, Holmes will match Time Bank members with services. 

“A time bank is a community of members who share resources in exchange for an alternative currency called time dollars,” said Holmes. “Everyone has something to give. Every hour is equal. Everyone benefits from the inherent gifts of giving and receiving.”

This new service will be made up of individual members, organizational affiliates and business partners. Everyone across the Plateau is invited to become a member.

 “For every hour that a member spends providing a service to another member, they earn one time dollar. Then, that member can spend his or her time dollars on the services of any other Time Bank member,” she said. 

For instance, someone with plumbing skills can offer a number of hours to the Time Bank. The plumber is in need of someone to paint doors. The painter is in need of plumbing help. Holmes will match up the plumber and the painter. Each one will use their time dollars to get their project done.

“It does not matter what your age, education or skill set is. Your hour is worth the same as another. Everyone’s time is valued equally.” This holds true whether a member is offering professional legal advice, repairing a kitchen sink or making home visits for companionship. The Time Bank is designed as a way to help everyone in the community. 

“We have the potential to change the way we work and help. Everyone has something they can offer,” said Holmes. “This is a way to grow a volunteer base for all organizations in the community.” 

The mission of the Time Bank is to nurture and expand a movement that promotes equality and builds caring community economies through inclusive exchange of time and talent.

According to TimeBanks USA <www.timebanks.org>, time banking has become an international social change movement, spanning 22 countries. Each time bank is unique, reflecting the values and goals of its community of members. 

Edgar S. Cahn founded TimeBanks USA in 1980. Cahn created this system of alternative currency in response to government cuts on social welfare funding.

For more information contact Holmes at 598-0303 or (423) 280-1480. Her email is <officefolksat​home@gmail.com>. Located in the Blue House, 400 University Ave., the office hours are 1–5 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays, and 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Wednesdays. Holmes is also available to speak to community organizations about joining the Time Bank.

The Time Bank is offering a contest for naming this new program. The winner will receive a one-year membership in the Time Bank. Please send your ideas to Holmes.