LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Time Bank of Thrive Lake County reached its 300th member on Monday, July 29.
“We’re really excited by this achievement,” said John Saare, North Lake and Technical Coordinator for the Time Bank of Thrive Lake County. “People all over the county are exchanging time rather than cash for services they absolutely need, or for services they otherwise wouldn’t have received if they had to pay cash for them. Office help, work around the house and yard, transportation, Santa Rosa ‘Trader Joe’ runs are all services people can and have benefited from.”
Carol Cole-Lewis, Thrive Lake County coordinator and Time Bank Project coordinator explained why this number is so important.
“We are finally reaching a critical mass where the momentum we’ve established will begin to sustain itself,” she said. “In the beginning, it was more difficult to get your needs met because of the limited number of people in the system. With more members, there’s a greater possibility of being helped, and of finding someone to help.”
Cole-Lewis continued, “More importantly, we have noticed a marked improvement of the percentage of Time Bankers doing trades every month. The month of July saw close to 20 percent of our members making a transaction. The Time Bank really works when people participate!”
The Time Bank is open to any Lake County resident, business or organization. The next free orientation brunch for new and prospective members is on Saturday, Aug. 10, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Kelseyville Methodist/Unitarian Universalist Church at 3810 Main St., Kelseyville (across from the Saw Shop).
The Time Bank Lakeport office on 307 N. Main St. is open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday through Friday.
The Clearlake office at the Clearlake Food Pantry (14832 Lakeshore, Clearlake) is open 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursdays.
For more information about Time Bank of Thrive Lake County, visit http://timebanklakeco.org or call 707-413-0220.