What do you do with a broken toaster? Or with a sweater with moth holes? Toss it? No way! Volunteers at the Wallkill River School of Art are organizing the first Repair Cafe in Montgomery on Sept. 14.
Volunteer repair experts will be available to make all possible repairs free of charge, however parts or materials for repairs will have a small fee. People visiting the Repair Cafe can bring their broken items—such as toasters, cell phones and laptops, lamps, hair driers, clothing, toys, knitted sweaters, bicycles and more—which can be repaired and adjusted by volunteer experts. Scissor and knife sharpening will be available.
Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardener will also be on site to answer questions about plant diseases and have info on lyme disease.
By promoting repairs, Montgomery volunteers will be reducing waste, especially from items which can easily be repaired.
“A Repair Cafe is also a way for neighbors to meet in a different way and discover practical skills that benefit the individual and brings the community together in a unique way,” organizer of Montgomery’s Repair Cafe Jeanie Beers said.
Beers said repair cafes also save money.
“Repairs can also save money and resources and help minimize CO2 emissions. A Repair Cafe may also show people how easy it really is (most times) to repair an item rather than discard it, passing these skills on to the next generation,” Beers said.
The Repair Cafe Foundation concept began in the Netherlands in 2009 and founded by Martine Postma, an Amsterdam journalist. In 2010 she started the Repair Cafe Foundation, providing support for people around the world who wish to start a Repair Cafe in their neighborhood.
In celebration of the first Repair Café in Montgomery, organizers have also invited local artisians to sell their handcrafted goods. Items offered include handmade bags and purses, knitted items, pottery, jewelry, and local honey.
The event is on Sept. 14 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Wallkill River School of Art, 232 Ward Street/Route 17K, Montgomery. To learn more, call Beers at 457-9330 or visit repaircafe.org.