Wbg. Repair Cafe -- creating community connections

WARRENSBURG | People from northern Warren County seeking to get household items, small appliances, electronics and clothing repaired were drawn May 3 to Richards Library in Warrensburg, where six "repair coaches" extended the life of about 20 items — at no charge. Sarah Gebbie-Measeck of Warrensburg, who designs and creates children's dress-up clothing and costumes, launched the semi-annual Warrensburg Repair Cafe events last June after reading the book Repair Revolution, which describes how people who fix items are seeking to transform the prevailing "throwaway culture" and pursue a sustainable lifestyle. The May 3 Warrensburg Repair Cafe was the third edition of the event since the service was founded. Sarah said May 4 that she feels it is important to repair items rather than throw them away because it reduces needless waste, and is environmentally friendly by not contributing to carbon dioxide emissions and by saving natural resources that would go toward manufacturing a replacement item. But just as important, Sarah said, is how Repair Cafe events bring people together, in addition to renewing something that a person feels is useful or valuable to them. "People who bring in things that need fixing make connections with the 'repair coaches,' learn new skills in fixing things, gain information, and then teach the skills of repairing things to other people," she said. "It's about building community relationships." Among the 20 or so items that were fixed at Richards Library May 3 by the volunteer repair coaches with varied skills include a sewing machine, jewelry, a DVD player, and wooden items, as well as clothing — a shirt, a pair of pants, and slippers. During prior Warrensburg Repair Cafe sessions, a stapler was unjammed, bicycles were renovated, earrings were restored, and holes in clothing, Christmas stockings, and jeans pockets were all mended. Also, a bird statue, a toaster, a clock, a toy truck and a television remote control were repaired. Sarah said that Richards Library was co-sponsoring the Warrensburg Repair Cafe, and library Director Shelby Burkhardt was a fan of the concept. Repair Cafes are a growing trend in the U.S. and internationally. About a dozen communities in New York State's Capital Region host recurring Repair Cafe events, and they have flourished in the Hudson Valley because a New Paltz resident is credited with establishing a Repair Cafe in his community after experiencing one in Europe. An estimated 3,200 ongoing Repair Cafes exist internationally, and the number of communities holding such events is growing at a rapid pace, according to news reports. Warrensburg is the sole municipality in northern Warren County that holds Repair Cafe sessions, but one in Glens Falls that started about a year ago has been quite successful. Tracy Frisch, founder of Zero Waste Warren County — and the publicist for the Glens Falls Repair Cafe — said May 4 that people enjoy attending the sessions. "These events are very fun, people are very appreciative, and repair coaches have a very good time," she said. "Repair Cafes get people thinking about how things can be repaired rather than throwing them out. Also, repair coaches get to use their skills to help others." The next Warrensburg Repair Cafe session is set for Saturday, Nov. 8, and the next Glens Falls fix-it event is to be held Saturday, June 7.

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Wbg. Repair Cafe -- creating community connections

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