By Pam de Ocampo, Krista Wyatt, and Abby Greer | TimeBanks.Org
Hello from TimeBanks.Org!
Our TimeBank community is growing stronger and better together. Members are sharing more, connecting more, and healing together. The Town Halls and the coordinator calls have tripled in attendance, just to hear each other’s stories. Collaborating with TimeBank coordinators and community leaders has been an amazing experience. We know that building this integrated movement and bringing together groups and individuals, who are already working on real transformative approaches towards meaningful change, IS THE MAGIC that creates abundant and healthy lives.
Read on for the stories, expanding initiatives, plus a bonus – a cherished recipe for food lovers!
The Wealthiest Woman in Reading
Donna Marie arrived from Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. The single mother and her three children looked for a better future in Reading, Pennsylvania. This city has been fighting poverty and disinvestment for decades. When she arrived, Donna immediately realized that life in Reading would not be the same as in San Juan. While she lived in Puerto Rico, Donna worked as a community liaison for Residencial Las Margaritas and was always involved in her community through local charity organizations. Her neighborhood had built a support network that took care of each other and offered help in case of need. But Hurricane Maria proved to be too much. After Maria, the infrastructure of the island proved beyond difficult with scarce water and food, and a failing electrical system, so she decided to move in with her parents in Pennsylvania.
When she arrived in Reading she found the same values from her island reflected in the organization Barrio Alegria: At Barrio we share everything. READ MORE and get Donna's recipe.
TimeBanks.Org sponsors the TimeForAll Timebank
We are excited to announce that TimeBanks.Org now sponsors the TimeForAll Timebank, a timebank designed specifically for timebank coordinators. This global timebank gives coordinators from all over the world a chance to share experiences and create a community of changemakers, exchange time credits for valuable skills, resources, mentorship and even a spare room if needed!
It is important to us to support coordinators and continue to nurture those who are pioneers in building timebank communities. This month’s guest presenter on their monthly call shared her wealth of experience with board development which can be crucial to any organization. Here’s what our facilitator, Abby, had to say about the call:
“Today's call was INCREDIBLE! Our guest gave us a whirlwind tour of board structure. It was informative and relatable. I loved the question and answer portion which just endears me to this community of coordinators even more. I'm so proud of what we do. Furthermore, a 10 minute addition after the call led us to our next guest speaker who will talk about how having a paid coordinator made a HUGE difference in their New Zealand timebank. She will also discuss the collaboration between sustainability type organizations and timebanking and how that relationship is WORKING!”
Last but not least, St. Pete Timebank is on the news! Watch the news report below (click on the first link).
Who would have known that we would live through a years-long pandemic, to find and be inspired by that old adage – that true abundance is found in ourselves, in each other, and in our communities.
From our team to you and yours, sending you warm wishes during this holiday season.
Links:
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