Eau Claire (WQOW)-The Chippewa Valley is known for its giving spirit. Now, there's a new way to connect those volunteers with people who need a helping hand.
It's called a volunteer timebank. It's a way of trading time, rather than money
"It's kind of a pay it forward system," says Kaylynn Stahlbusch, Chippewa Valley Timebank.
The Chippewa Valley Timebank has a simple philosophy:
"We're looking for individuals that then can contact them and say I'm willing to rake your lawn or mow your lawn, or put plastic on your windows, cook for you, give you rides, small things like that," says Stahlbusch.
It's an online volunteer system
"What we're looking to do is create a centralized system where volunteers can go and look up opportunities in three different counties," says Stahlbusch.
Those counties are Eau Claire, Dunn and Chippewa. One goal is to connect volunteer programs. For example if downtown Eau Claire has a cleanup project this would be one way to recruit help.
"Another goal is to help chore service really for the elderly or the disabled that are unable to work or get chores done on their own," says Stahlbusch. "You don't need to live within the counties but the services provided do need to be within Eau Claire, Chippewa, Dunn Counties. We are looking for anyone there is an age limit but if you have a guardian with you, typically anyone can be part of the timebank. You sign up as a member. Right now we're waiving any of the fees until the first of the year."
After January 1, there will be a $10 fee to sign up per person. That money goes towards website maintenance and insurance for volunteers. Here's how it works:
"You can log on to the site, post services that you can offer or post services that you may need," says Stahlbusch.
Then timebank members can contact you.
"Member services don't need to be from person to person either. I could provide a service for someone and they could use that time to provide for someone else," says Stahlbusch.
Timebank keeps track of the hours spent volunteering.
"So you have hours, you accrue hours by providing services," says Stahlbusch. "Once services are provided the person that received the services will then go into the system and withdraw the time hours from their account and then give it to the person that provided that service."
So an hour spent helping someone earns you time which then can be used in exchange for someone doing something for you.
"Today we just had someone post that they would be willing to make soup for a family of six so that's really a really neat service that you can provide for someone if they needed it," says Stahlbusch.
If you'd like to get involved, but don't have access to the internet the Chippewa Valley Timebank can help you sign up and maintain an account. For more information email Chippewa Valley Timebank: inso@chippewavalleytimebank.org.
