Silver Spring Timebank joins in Celebrating the Year of the Horse

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On March 1, 2026, our community came together for a joyful celebration of Chinese New Year, welcoming the Year of the Horse. The gathering brought together close to 30 participants of all ages, creating a warm and lively atmosphere filled with learning, cultural exchange, and connection.

The event offered guests an opportunity to explore the traditions and meaning behind Chinese New Year. Participants learned about the symbolism of the Lunar New Year, why it is celebrated for 15 days, and the significance of the Year of the Horse in Chinese culture. Many attendees shared that it was their first time experiencing these traditions, and they appreciated the chance to deepen their understanding of another culture.

Several members of the Silver Spring Timebank also joined the celebration. They helped introduce the concept of time banking to the broader community, explaining how neighbors can exchange skills and services without using money. Guests were able to ask questions, learn how the system works, and discover how joining the Timebank could strengthen community ties and mutual support.

Food played a central role in the celebration, as everyone contributed to a diverse and delicious potluck. The table was filled with a wonderful mix of cultural dishes, including samosas, sushi rice, gluten‑free green bean thread noodles, curry chicken, pastries, and many other homemade favorites. Sharing food allowed guests to experience flavors from different backgrounds and sparked conversations about family traditions and cooking styles.

The atmosphere throughout the afternoon was warm, welcoming, and filled with laughter. People connected with new friends, learned from one another, and enjoyed the spirit of togetherness that Chinese New Year represents. It was truly a joyous occasion that highlighted the richness of cultural exchange and the strength of community.

We hope to continue hosting celebrations like this in the future, bringing neighbors together to learn, share, and build meaningful connections.

Reported by: May Forshee, event organizer and Silver Spring Timebank member

Member Spotlight: John Lumpkin

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SSTB Member John Lumpkin (Gentry) is a Collage and Theatre Artist who is a new member of the Silver Spring Timebank (SSTB).  He joined SSTB about three months ago after his fiance introduced John to Timebanking and SSTB.  His fiance is  Alissa Klusky, who has been an SSTB member for about a year. 

John is relatively new to  Maryland.  He is a native Texan who lived his entire life in the Lone Star State until moving to Maryland in 2021.  

As background, John and his fiance met at Baylor University in the Theatre Program.  It was there that they  fell in love and both graduated with Theatre Performance degrees!  

Moving to Maryland has been good for John.   He thoroughly enjoys living up north and he especially enjoys being part of the SSTB community!

At the SSTB John offers collage art!  He  began making collages several years ago during the pandemic and has fallen in love with the art form. John often uses antique papers in his work and genuinely enjoys searching for unique and vintage materials to incorporate into his work..  In fact, the author of this Member Highlight met John through an SSTB trade when she commissioned a beautiful collage from John.

John’s mission as a collage artist is to find a home for lost and forgotten materials. His collages often include lost family photos, unique publications, and handwritten notes in the margins.  Consider commissioning a personalized  collage for your own enjoyment or to give as a gift!

As a newish member of SSTB John hasn’t traded much with others.  However one trade he did have  grew from meeting a fellow SSTB Member at a SSTB Potluck Social this past January.  The SSTB Member he met at the social  artfully sewed the holes in several pairs of John’s jeans!  This helped him to keep the jeans out of the landfill by extending their life.   John says it was really nice to connect with the fellow SSTB member at the Potluck Social because he had been  planning to throw out the torn jeans.  Insteas the SSTB trade allowed him to re-use and upcycle!

John especially likes finding Timebank trades that are useful and that allow him to rely on the community rather than just mindless consumerism.


Take a look at John’s collage work on Instagram. His address is “@johngentryart.”  And, consider commissioning a collage for yourself or a loved one through SSTB!  If you do you’ll own or gift an original piece of art!

Written by Madeline Caliendo

Member Spotlight: Sam Mayes-Matthews

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SSTB Member Sam-Mayes Mathews is a textile artist and costume maker (a “costumer”) whose main focus is on historical textile and garment construction techniques.  They are professionally trained in tailoring and theatrical costuming and have completed LOTS of personal and academic research into historical and sustainable textiles.  Sam-Mayes often says, “If it's textiles, I touch it’, all the way down to spinning and weaving.”

Sam-Mayes Mathews joined SSTB in 2025.  They learned about the concept of Timebanking from a fellow they met while offering their wares and services at a booth in a market. At the market they offer their textile services and wares for trade and barter.   Hearing about Timebanking intrigued Sam-Mayes.  The concept of Timebanking is consistent with how they live their life and run their business– so they joined SSTB! 

In the Time Bank, Sam-Mayes offers alteration and sewing services.  They also teach various crafts.  They love sharing their skills, so Timebanking is a perfect match!  Sam-Mayes also very much believes in people’s right to repair and alter clothing (versus discarding it), especially if and when clothing falls out of fashion. 

Sam-Mayes has very much enjoyed being a part of SSTB.  They’ve helped members restore heirlooms, complete crafts that hold precious memories, and help them live more sustainably by altering clothes they can keep for the long-term.

Sam-Mayes has offered their talents to SSTB Members, though they haven’t yet used their hours to solicit other members’ talents.  But, soon they will be reaching out to solicit trades!  Sam-Mayes has visions of a thriving edible garden full of vegetables in 2026 and welcomes SSTB members’ help with their garden!!

Sam-Mayes truly enjoys SSTB.  Their favorite part is meeting new people and the sense of connection and community SSTB offers.  They also believe the non-monetary exchange of goods and services helps to build a stronger, more connected community that thrives in both good times and more challenging times.  Timebanking helps to strengthen the values of sharing and community while minimizing what Sam-Mayes calls “toxic individualism” and consumerism.  Through Timebanking we can all thrive (not just survive…)

Consider a SSTB trade with Sam-Mayes Mathews, and also keep an eye out for their booth at festivals and markets where they offer their goods and services!



A Wonderful Potluck Kicked Off 2026

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More than thirty Timebank members and guests buzzed with laughter and great conversation at our first in-person social for the new year! The Casual Potluck was a wonderful opportunity to connect with new and longtime Timebank members of all ages and enjoy a variety of delicious foods and desserts. Some of us are still getting our “social sea legs” back post-quarantine and this was a warm and welcoming opportunity!

Lively conversations spanned timebank exchanges, an adorable new granddaughter, volunteering, finding a new job, making new friends, online dating, mischievous cats, canning new foods, and crafting snow sculptures – what a blast!

Thanks so much to Fatima Mahmud for her hospitality and organizational skills in planning and hosting our Casual Potluck! We greatly appreciate your initiative, leadership, and efforts!

And…

Did you know our Timebank had its 10th anniversary in 2025? Here are some fun facts to celebrate:

  • Dr. Edgar Cahn developed the concept of timebanking in 1980!

  • Some of our original members are still active – 10 years later!

  • We have grown to nearly 500 members!

  • We have exchanged more than 10,000 hours!

  • Our Timebank is 100% managed by volunteers - without any paid staff or dues!

By exchanging neighborly support, we build both economic and social capital in an organic, grassroots way. Swapping services and resources saves us money and helps us make new friends and connections. Social health and feeling part of a community are important to our overall health and well-being. Cheers to our Timebank’s next 10 years! How can we all keep it going strong?

  • Make an exchange

  • Post a new offer

  • Host a social event

  • Join a group

  • Recruit a friend to join

  • Attend a Leadership or Events Committee meeting – new members are welcome! (Check the calendar at sstimebank.org or email silverspringtimebank@gmail.com for details.)

Best wishes for a Happy and Healthy 2026!

Thank you to timebank member Lisa Cook for writing this article. Lisa earned timebank time for her efforts. There are all kinds of ways you can help the timebank and earn hours, too! Contact silverspringtimebank@gmail.com to learn more.



Silver Spring TimeBank Participates in a Fundraising Flea Market!

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By Madeline Caliendo


They say it takes a village to raise a child.  It also takes a village to successfully participate in a quick-turn-around fundraising event like a Flea Market!   The Silver Spring Time Bank (SSTB) did just that on Saturday, May 17, 2025, when we participated in a Flea Market hosted by the Washington Ukrainian Humanitarian Center at St. Andrew's Church, 15100 New Hampshire Ave. Silver Spring, MD.

 

In total twenty-two (22) SSTB members rallied together on short notice to make the event a HUGE success.  SSTB members donated goods to sell, helped transport goods from donors to the sales table, helped set up the selling area, sold goods to passing patrons, spoke about SSTB  to passersby, took photos to document the event, packed up leftover items for SSTB to donate to charity after the sale, and helped with a myriad of the other tasks that go into making an event like this a success!  As noted, twenty-two (22) timebank members offered their time and/or donated belongings to help with this fundraiser. Each earned timebank hours which they can now use for services from other members.  


You may ask yourself WHY does a Timebank whose members exchange hours (not dollars) need to raise money?  That's a good question and the answer is easy.  It is to pay for administrative costs like the website and the like that cannot be secured via an exchange. 


In addition to raising enough money to pay the bills that needed to be paid, the SSTB Flea Market was successful in that it connected our organization to a whole new community of potential members who otherwise knew nothing about Timebanking and who showed interest in joining SSTB!  Participating in the event also connected SSTB with a local charity called “Bare Necessities Foundation.”   We donated a few unsold items to them and hope to do more with them in the future. They are also joining the timebank as an organizational member!  https://www.barenecessitiesfoundation.org/ 


Again, THANK YOU to all who participated, and a special thanks to Laura Kranis who spearheaded the effort!

Member Spotlight: Charlotte Schoeneman

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Charlotte Schoeneman has been a member of the SSTB for 10 years. What attracted Charlotte to the timebank was her love of helping neighbors, her desire to build community, and her love of exchanging! The timebank brought all of these elements together!

When she was deciding what to offer at the SSTB, Charlotte looked at what skills she had, what her experiences had been, and where her interests were. Initially Charlotte chose to offer dance instruction, divorce counseling, nutrition counseling, design, and hair cutting.  Recently, she started offering travel planning and trail walking too.

SSTB members Charlotte Schoeneman and Eugenia Park

Of all that she offers, without a doubt the most popular offer to date has been haircutting.  This became especially popular during the pandemic. Charlotte loves how happy everyone is with their haircuts. 

However Charlotte’s  greatest joy has been in providing nutrition counseling!  She just did her first consultation recently, and it was super fun to do. Charlotte is a longtime health-food nut, and she loves sharing her hobby with others..

Charlotte enjoys what others offer at the timebank too. She’s taken advantage of many offers including rides to the airport, massages, bicycle maintenance, gardening and help with downsizing/decluttering. 

While all the services Charlotte received have been helpful, Charlotte found the decluttering with Carrie to be especially helpful. That service came at a particularly stressful time when Charlotte was packing and moving and Carrie was very helpful. Charlotte also shared about a lovely foot reflexology session she had recently too.

Looking to the future, Charlotte intends to keep her offers fresh so that they mirror her interests and talents. That’s why she added trail walking and travel advising as they reflect a new direction in her life. If you want to walk/hike a trail or travel the world and pack light too, Charlotte is your gal!

What Charlotte says she enjoys most about being a member of the SSTB is being part of a community, and being interdependent on neighbors. She thinks this is a factor of social life that is less and less present in the U.S.A. today—though it is fortunately burgeoning here in the timebank!

Many thanks to SSTB member Madeline Caliendo for writing this terrific Member Spotlight! (As a side note–Madeline is one of Charlotte’s “haircutting customers” and she has been over the moon with the cuts she gets from Charlotte!) 

Welcome New Members!

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New SSTB member Lisa Cook has the “social gene”! She’s currently studying for her Masters in Social Work (Ohio State, online) with a focus on people 50+, living alone, not yet retired but prepping for living and aging alone. Did you know that 30% of U.S. households include someone living alone? Lisa has a TEDx talk presentation on “Living Alone, Living Connected” (https://planbconnections.com/about).

When she recently moved back to the D.C. area with her two cats (after living in Minnesota and Florida), she moved back into an apartment complex she has lived in before. There she quickly organized a cat-sitting exchange among her neighbors --- not only is it easy to have your cats looked after when you travel, it has served to introduce neighbors to neighbors.  Lisa is all about connections --- it’s clear she has the “social gene”!

Something else about Lisa --- she loves to write. She has 59 articles posted on her LinkedIn page. And her passion for writing started when she was a girl --- she just keeps filling journals and has 125 volumes on her shelves!

Lisa is really good at starting groups and community-building. In fact, she was recently talking to SSTB member Tina Slater about how in-person Timebank social events have slumped since Covid, and inspired Tina to host the June timebank potluck!

We’re hoping Lisa can help us energize even more connections in the timebank. Welcome to one of our newest members – Lisa Cook!

Many thanks to SSTB member Tina Slater for this wonderful introduction to Lisa!