Viroqua residents banking time to get things done

VIROQUA, Wis. — It’s a saying that most people can relate to — there just aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done — but residents in Viroqua have found a way to put their time to good use through the city’s TimeBank system.

For some residents in Viroqua, time is valuable but it’s not about money.

“How do you put a monetary value on that?” asked Loma Hur, TimeBank coordinator. “You don’t.”

Hur said it’s about helping a neighbor in need, and if there is one thing Hur could use a little time and a helping hand with, it’s organizing her closet.

“I just kind of stuff things in and keep them from falling,” Hur laughed.

And Diane Harding of Richland Center just so happened to have a spare second.

It’s part of an online exchange system these two women are a part of –a virtual time bank — where people can offer their services in exchange for “time dollars.”

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They can then use their dollars in exchange for another service on the site.

“It’s a neighborly thing, but through the time bank, you get credit for being neighborly, and then you can call upon another neighbor and get something you need,” said Hur.

“It has helps me be more involved with the community,” said Harding.

One-by-one all of the towels, bed sheets and toiletries get moved out of the closet. Everything gets re-organized, and goes right back in.

Before they knew it, they were done in no time.

“Looks great,” said Harding. “What do you think?” Harding asked Hur.

Now Harding’s time helping a neighbor means time banked for a day when she’ll need help in return.

“My garage does need painting,” said Harding. “Maybe I’ll save it up and get four or five people, and get it done.”

The time bank in Viroqua is a branch off of the time bank in Richland Center.

It started this summer. Already, about 30 people a part of it.

For more information on the time bank, visit richland.timebanks. org.