The Hillside Village Hour Exchange (交换) is a project whose idea came from the international Time Bank movement. The starters of this project recognize that every person can offer services to other people as well as receive services. The unit of exchange is one hour of time. Villagers who agree to join this project can earn a time credit (信用) for every hour they help meet the needs of another villager. Then when they are in need of others’ help, they can spend the credits they get getting services from others. Services for exchange include helping in the home, taking care of the elders and the kids, moving, repairing, gardening, computer service and pet care etc.

Here is how it goes. Leo joins this project and fills in a form on our website, writing down the skills he has and the things he needs. Mary visits our website and searches our Time & Talents page for people who provide shopping service and decides to get in touch with Leo. Leo returns her call and helps her get the things she wants from the village store. Leo then records the time credits he earned online and spends them having Tom play the piano at his party. Tom spends his credits having Lisa help his son little Danny with his math homework. This can go on and on as you like.

For more information, visit www. HEhillsidevillage.com or call Mr. Smith，our project director at 2569-9854 (9 a.m.—4 p.m.).

Information Card

	Can you see the schoolbag in the picture? It is blue and brown. Do you know what’s in it? Well, some books, a pencil box, an English-English dictionary and a blue jacket are in it. In the pencil box are three pens, two pencils, two erasers and a ruler. This schoolbag is from (来自) Paul.
The schoolbag in the first picture is for Bob. Here is a photo of him. Bob is seven. He wants to go to school, but his family is poor. Paul wants to help Bob.

Do you want to help Bob, too? Please call me (Mrs. Miller)! My telephone number is 792-9303.

My two little daughters and I usually go out and help others on Thankful Thursday. Last Thursday, we were going to buy lunch for the beggars (乞丐) in the street. Then we went to the nearest KFC. I ordered 15 lunches from it and drove my car to hand them out. We gave the lunches to the beggars. They were excited. We were happy to see that. Then we noticed a small, old woman, asking for pocket money. We gave her our last lunch bag. Before we got into the car, she started to speak to us. “No one has done anything like this for me before,” she said with a smile. “Well, I’m glad that we were the first,” I answered. “So, when will you eat your lunch?” I asked. She just looked at me with her big, tired brown eyes and said, “Oh, dear, I’m not going to eat this lunch. You see, I have a little daughter. I usually can’t buy her favourite food, but today she will be so happy!” I don’t know if the kids noticed the tears in my eyes. I have asked many times whether our actions of kindness were too small to change anything. Yet at that moment, I realized the truth of words: We cannot do great things-only small things with great love.