The importance of community exchange

I fondly remember the amazing barter system of my youth. Back in the 1920s and 1930s, the 1,500 or so citizens of Danville, had no money. My father, the community’s much-loved doctor, was paid in products and services. Accordingly, we always had fresh food on the table and a good stack of wood — and the good people of Danville had a doctor who never turned them away.

Today, in 2012, many people are in need of basic services. At the age of 91, I can’t walk very far or drive, so it’s difficult for me to get to appointments or to do shopping. Others need help with reading or dog walking. And some simply need companionship.

In Montpelier, we are extremely fortunate to have two organizations — the Reach Care Network and the Onion River Exchange — that make it possible for neighbors to help neighbors, and to be helped in return. When you sign up for these exchanges, you’re given a weekly listing of people who need different kinds of help. Your monthly commitment is just two hours. And if you need help with anything yourself — whether for transportation, wood stacking, dog walking, you name it — you can ask for another volunteer for assistance. These exchanges also offer classes that make it easy to connect with others and learn new things.

When times are hard, barter systems meet important community needs. In my view, they are what community is all about.

To learn more about such exchanges, go to the Reach Service Exchange website (reachvt.org) or the Onion River Exchange site (orexchange.org).

Polly Paulsen

Montpelier