Lynn Time Bank F.A.Q

 

How much time is involved?

You may participate in service exchanges as often as you are able. Some members give or receive services every week, or every month, or a few times per year. You are invited to help other by doing what you enjoy when it is convenient for you.

 

What if I have a job and a busy schedule?

There is no requirement to participate a certain number of hours. You can give as much time as you can, including weekends, evenings, or weekdays. Service exchanges can take place on a flexible basis.

 

What’s in it for me?

For every hour of help you give, you also receive an hour of help. You are also making a difference in someone’s life, whether it’s giving a ride to a person who doesn’t have a car, tutoring a student, translating, sewing, or helping with computer problems. You could also learn new skills, make friends, and get to know your way around Lynn and the north shore area better.

 

Do I have to pay anything?

No. There are no membership fees or any cash involved with service exchanges. From time to time, the LTB sponsors fundraisers such as a comedy club night, where members and the public are invited to buy tickets, but obviously participation is optional!

 

Do I have to live in Lynn?

No. The majority of members live in Lynn, but everyone is welcome to participate in the LTB. If you live outside of Lynn, it is possible that fewer members could get to your home if you need help in your house, because not all members have a car. Please call the office for more details.

 

What do I have to do to join the LTB?

Fill out an application form, either on paper or on-line at http://community.timebanks.org (next to Lynn Time Bank). Your references will be checked and you will be interviewed by Time Bank staff. If you want to provide child care or give rides, additional background checks are required (CORI and driver’s license).

 

Do I have to have a car to participate?

No. You can receive rides or take the bus or train.

 

What if I need help before I have time to help someone else?

If you have an urgent problem, you can receive help before giving it.

 

Are there any services the LTB cannot provide? Yes.

1-     We don’t give medical help, except giving rides to appointments and translating during appointments.

2-     We are not able to provide ongoing services such as giving you a ride to work every day or cleaning your house every week.

3-     The farther away from Lynn you live, the more challenging it is to find members who can get to your house because of distance, time, and reliable transportation.

4-     Last minute requests are difficult to meet; requests should be made as far in advance as possible to respect the busy lives and schedules of members.

5-     Some requests cannot be met if members do not offer that service, such as electrical work, roofing, etc. We are looking for new members who have these skills! If you know someone who could help out from time to time, please tell them about the Lynn Time Bank.

6-     Huge projects will be broken down into smaller jobs (for example, if you need several hours of work done, it might take several members one or two hours each, and we cannot promise that the entire project will get done in a short period of time. An illustration is helping you to move: some members can help pack boxes before moving day, others can lift and carry boxes on moving day, someone else could help to clean the old place or the new place, etc.)

 

Are there ever group projects?

Yes. Some exchanges take place on a one-to-one basis, such as transportation or tutoring, other activities are with groups, such as painting, moving, clean-up events, etc. Please let us know your interests.

 

Please contact us with questions and to sign up!

 

Phone: 781-593-1800

E-mail: barbara@lynntimebank.org

www.lynntimebank.org