Advertisement Cash-free timebanking movement is growing Members earn time credits to 'buy' services without money Share Shares Copy Link Copy

If you have a chore you despise doing, and someone would do it for you without charging money, would you participate?Timebanking is a growing movement that allows you to do just that. It's a way to exchange chores or services.VIDEO: Watch Marcie Cipriani's reportOne hour of your time is equal to one hour of anyone else's in the timebank. You do not need to repay the same person who did a chore for you."That would be nice," said Lil Adams, who, like many Pittsburghers, has not heard of such a thing. But it is happening all over the country."Members pool their skills, their talents, their resources and their passions, and they exchange them with each other, one hour at a time," said Abby Greer, executive director of the Kent Community TimeBank in Kent, Ohio. "We have professionals, we have semi-professionals, we have non-professionals."For example, Sam Lasko can use his creativity to earn a time credit that he can spend for an oil change at Tires & More. The owner, Mary Woodyard, will take Lasko's time credit for that service, then spend it for whatever her business needs from anyone in the timebank."I have used it for graphic design and some computer Facebook help," Woodyard said.A different sort of timebanking takes place inside the Hour Share store in Kent, where the banner outside was bought with time credits, and even the rent is paid with time. Timebankers go there to shop with no money.Lila Stumpf got a toy, but the 3-year-old girl also learned a lesson."She knows that if we come to the Hour Share store, we have to do something. We have to kind of give it back," timebanker Amy Stumpf said.To earn the items they bought, choosing their own price, they will deliver flyers for another timebanker."You're using the skills that you have to help other people, and there isn't this cash exchange, which is awesome," Amy Stumpf said.It's a concept that many Pittsburghers hope will catch on locally."Pittsburgh should be ready for it," said Alton Allesberry Sr., of Wilkinsburg. "Even if they're not ready, they should be, because no one can ever have too much kindness in this world today."Go to timebanks.org for information about joining a timebank or starting a new one.