Time is sometimes worth a lot more than money.

A new Bellevue program will help community members trade time for skills such as gardening help in exchange for watching after-school childcare.

The concept behind Eastside Timebank is simple: The user can spend an hour doing a favor for someone else, and in return, receive one time dollar. The user can spend that time dollar on having someone in the nearby community provide a service for him or her.

Through an online database, users will be able to see what skills and services neighbors have to offer, and what services they need. That way, neighbors are able to match their skills with the needs of other locals.

Types of help one could provide or seek out include minor home repair, transportation, craft skills, haircuts, moving assistance and tutoring.

There are more than 100 timebanks like this throughout the country, and now there will be three on the Eastside, which all operate in partnership with city government. Kirkland gained its timebank last December, and the program is launching in Redmond as well as Bellevue.

Joining the Eastside Timebank requires completing an application, agreeing to a background check and attending an orientation.

To join, attend an informational meeting open to the public from 7 to 8 p.m., March 31 at the North Bellevue Community Center: 4063 148th Ave. N.E.

For more information about the City of Bellevue’s participation in the Eastside Timebank, contact Alex O’Reilly, city human services planner, at AOReilly@bellevuewa.gov. For more information on the Eastside Timebank, go to www.eastsidetimebank.org; call 206-818-4606 or e-mail info@eastsidetimebank.org.