The Eastside Time Bank is a response to the recession, and a powerful tool for the citizens of Kirkland to work together through a time and skills exchange system. The initial launch is just for Kirkland. It will then expand to East King County in January 2011.

The Time Bank concept is simple: you spend an hour of time doing something for someone else, and in return receive a time dollar. You can spend that time dollar on having someone else in the community do something for you. This is accomplished via a Web site where you have a personal account on which you can list what services you want to give and receive, and where you arrange exchanges with other members. There are over 100 time banks currently in existence throughout the country.

Find out more about time banking and the upcoming Kirkland pilot, which will start Oct. 1, at www.eastsidetimebank.org. For information, contact Margaret Schwender at 206-226-5358, or margschwender@comcast.net.

The first informal, introductory gathering of the Eastside Time Bank potential participants is 6:30-8:30 p.m. Oct. 14 at Lake Washington United Methodist Church, 7525 132nd Ave. N.E., Kirkland.