Organization Details:

To reward decency, caring and concern about the community. To provide people a mechanism to use their skills, share their passions and lend a helping hand. To create networks of support in which strangers become neighbors, neighbors become friends and friends become extended family.

Description and/or History:
The Community Connections TimeBank is a community benefit program sponsored by the Visiting Nurse Service of New York (VNSNY), the largest nonprofit home care agency in the nation. VNSNY launched its first TimeBank hub in December 2006, centered in Washington Heights. Since then, the TimeBank has expanded into two more hubs-- the Lower East Side and Sunset Park, Brooklyn.

The TimeBank is very flexible-- TimeBank members give what they can, when they can. For every hour contributed, members earn a time credit which they can redeem for services for themselves.

The TimeBank has over 1,000 members, ages 6-97, exchanging a wide variety of non-licensed services-- everything from cooking, language translation, escort to the doctor, minor home repair, and computer lessons, to name a few. Many community leaders have embraced the TimeBank and have signed on as partners. It now has over 70 organizational affiliates.

Currently, 67% of TimeBank service exchanges have crossed age ranges, 86% have crossed income groups, and, most shockingly, 67% have crossed ethnic backgrounds.

In addition to the wide array of services members can exchange, there are over 200 local, regional and online businesses providing discounts to TimeBank members. So members are saving money at the local pharmacies, groceries, restaurants and clothing stores.

Contact person: Mirta Cotto, Administrative Assistant, (212) 609-7811, (email)

Address:

225 West 34th Street, Suite 910 New York, NY 10122 (See a map)

Directions:

Take the A, C, E, 1, 2 or 3 subway line to the 34th St/ Penn Station stop. Or, take the M34, 20, 16 or 10 bus line to 34th St between 7th and 8th Ave. Walk to 225 West 34th St (also labeled as 14 Penn Plaza). We are located on the 9th floor, suite 910.   Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: 34th St/ Penn Station - A, C, E, 1, 2, 3,   Walk distance (in minutes): 1   Nearest Bus Stop: 34th St/ 8th Ave - M34, M20, M16, M10, 1 minute walk