West Homewood Community Exchange in running for grant money

The West Homewood Community Exchange, a group that barters with services in place of money, has made it to the finals of the State Farm Neighborhood Assist grant competition. The State Farm Youth Advisory Board sifted through 3,000 applications and found the top 200 nonprofit causes, groups and programs from around the country that have the most to gain from the grant. Now, Facebook users have until April 22, to vote for the top 40 causes. The top 40 will win $25,000 to apply toward their cause. 

According to group managed Kenyon Ross, if the WHCE wins the grant, the group plans to build a new online system that can be shared with other time-banking groups across the country and other projects to help meet the group's goals such as a potential part-time employee to help keep the group organized.

The exchange was launched last year from a group called What Is Good? at Shades Valley Community Church, but the group is open to everyone in the community. Whether it is for hair cuts, babysitting, yard work or tutoring, every hour spent for someone else goes into the online “bank” and may be "spent" with another service listed on the site. In its first year, the group acquired 60 members who have traded more than 600 hours.

The grant competition was designed to place decision-making power of making changes into the hands of the public. To vote, visit westhomewood.com and follow the link to the State Farm Neighborhood Assist Facebook page. The cause is listed as "Expand the West Homewood Time Bank." Users can vote 10 times a day instantly without waiting between votes. The top 40 causes that will be awarded the grant will be announced April 29.