GOOD IDEA: We read in our very own newspaper about a good idea
already going on in some places in the country. It’s called, “time
banks,” and we think it would be ideal for Bradford — or any
community for that matter.

These “banks” are not brick-and-mortar locations and the
“currency” isn’t money but time.

Here’s how it works: In a time bank, members get credit for
services they provide to other members from cooking to housekeeping
to car rides to home repair. For each hour of work, one time dollar
is deposited into a member’s account, good for services offered by
other members.

It’s sort of like bartering but without the direct exchange of
goods and services. The services are not reciprocal.

One person may “earn” time dollars by giving guitar lessons or
doing yard work. They could “spend” their time dollars to buy hair
cuts, for child care, plumbing or yoga classes. In other words,
Jane babysits for John; John fixes Mary’s leaky faucet; Mary drives
Tom to the doctor’s office, and so on, all of them earning and
spending time dollars.

Their labor is valued equally. One hour is always worth one time
dollar. And, so far, time dollars are not taxable.

We think this would be great in Bradford where, for instance,
one homebound woman could bake an apple pie in exchange for someone
who would mow her yard, do her taxes, pick up her groceries. The
tasks are as varied as piano lessons to babysitting, from gardening
to electrical work.

What we really liked about this idea was a side benefit: People
in communities involved got to know their neighbors, keep skills
sharp, and build a sense of community.

Bradford already has a pretty strong sense of community but, no
doubt, a time bank could help build those important local
relationships.

We like the idea of communities helping themselves. Let’s face
it. Nobody else is going to step up to the plate!

All we’d need to get started, of course, is someone to set it
up. Any volunteers? We’ve already earned our “time” by writing this
column.