Home   How Does It Work?   Easy Exchange Website   FAQ- Questions   Why TimeBanking?   Membership Info   Events Calendar   Blog Contact Us   Help Spread the Word   Become a Sponsor About Us  TimeBanks in the News TimeBank USA Info About TimeBanking *Members Only*   Discussion Boards     LOGIN- Exchange Website Ironclad, Simple Privacy Policy All membership info and exchange records are fully private and will never be shared in any way with any person or corporate entity.   Everyone is honoured and empowered to add their unique value to their neighbours and community.  Email Us Become a Sponsor  of the TimeBank LM TimeBank Phone: 778-232-5388 (message service only. Leave your question and your call will be returned.) Membership Info Lower Mainland TimeBank Lower Mainland TimeBank Vancouver, B.C., Canada    "Community is the relationships it’s members build and share."   TimeBanks USA   Story: At 30 years old, diagnosed bi-polar and unable to keep a full time employment, Karrie struggled with the stigma of her identity and value to society being connected to what type of "job" she did each day. She tried several volunteer positions but never felt like they really needed her in the positions that she was given. She found her way to Community Exchange, a Time Bank in Pennsylvania, and offered to work in the office. She was not sure if she would use the Time Dollars she was earning but said the most important thing for her was "to be productive." Because of the structure of Community Exchange we were flexible enough to arrange her hours to fit her needs. She felt so good working here that she thought she was ready to get a part time job. She hoped to find a job that would give her similar types of office duties. She was told that she would not be paid for the type of work she did at the CE office. She began slipping into a depression and ended up in the hospital. Several months later and two more hospitalizations she called the Community Exchange office. "Do you need anybody?" Karrie asked. She heard on the other end of the phone, "We always can use you and why don’t you come back!" Karrie told us, "I had just been discharged from the hospital and four days later I started. And I’ve been well ever since. So coming here... it’s crucial for me to get out and be productive and have some place to go and just to get up and get dressed. You know, if you’re home all day and have no place to go, you know you’re not going to get dressed and get in the car and go out- you stay in the house. And that for me is depressing. CE has helped me in a positive way. It’s been really important for me and the fact that I haven’t slipped back into depression makes me so happy. Being here this long has been good for me. I don’t tell people it’s volunteer. People always ask me, 'Oh, what are you doing, where are you working?' And I let them know I work here, but I don’t say it’s free. It has given me confidence to be able to say that I am working. I want to be working to show that I’m being productive. I would love it if you could give me a paid position; that’s one thing I would like – to be paid for the things I do now. But it’s not a necessity, you know, it’s just like a hope. But I’m not going anywhere." At first Karrie saw CE as a way to feel productive and not be embarrassed about not having a job, but now she has grown to recognize the value of reciprocity more and the importance of being connected to others. She has begun using her hours earned to get transportation for her mother, a new computer for herself, advice on nutrition and exercise, and wants to form a get-together group with others CE members in her age group just to have fun. - Community Exchange, PA