Got spare time❓Wanna help others by fixing things❓

[MacBoy]

Believe I saw this in a WSJ article today, with a bit of my own paraphrasing:

In towns across America, the Repair Cafes invite people to bring in broken household items.

Such as a toaster, a lamp, a bike, and furniture.

The Fixers use their skills to repair them.

One of the Fixers spends his days helping people squeeze more life from appliances that might otherwise end up in a landfill.

But what’s happening there goes beyond fixing toasters.

Dean has become a kind of matchmaker, pairing neighbors’ needs with volunteers’ skills.

That has enhanced the sense of mattering of everyone who walks through the door.

I remember now! It was an article about a transition into retirement. One’s self-worth and doing things that matter to others was a critical thing to sustain. Previously the job automatically provided the “your contributions matter to us”. But when one is retired, who relies upon you? What do you do that matters to someone else?

Then the article brought up the Repair Cafe, and how it benefits both the Fixers and the Owners of broken items.

There are lots of Repair Cafes in the USA and around the world!

Repair Café - Fix Your Broken Items

Repair Café is here to help you fix your broken items. Join our community of skilled volunteers and get your belongings repaired in a sustainable way.

www.repaircafe.org

 

[GaryA]

I have been a volunteer at my local one in the UK for about a year.
The best repair I did was a 94 year old man who brought in an old Indian hand made side table that had been broken and was practically flat packed.
I had to take it home to repair and rebuild, When I took it back to him he almost cried, He said it had been in his garage for 24 years and never thought he would see it again before he died.
It gave me a nice warm fuzzy feeling to hear that from him.

 

[MacBoy]

I have been a volunteer at my local one in the UK for about a year.
The best repair I did was a 94 year old man who brought in an old Indian hand made side table that had been broken and was practically flat packed.
I had to take it home to repair and rebuild, When I took it back to him he almost cried, He said it had been in his garage for 24 years and never thought he would see it again before he died.
It gave me a nice warm fuzzy feeling to hear that from him.

Heartwarming story!

 

[GaryA]

Also with the repair cafe, you don't need to be an expert. They have need for runners, admin, in and out, tea and cake makers and general helpers.
We so called experts and repairers are a small part of the community. Some cafe's have over 40 people.

 

[AstroKeith]

I too help at a RepairCafe in the UK. Thoroughly recommend supporting them either as volunteer or to get something fixed.
Leaked batteries and power cords broken through being 'yanked' are common and so easily fixed - usually.

My most memorable repair was a lady brought in her recently departed husband's old dictaphone. She just wanted to be able to hear his voice if there was anything on the tape. Batteries had explosively leaked and it was a right off. But a nearby charity shop had an old tape answerphone for £1 - and the dictaphone tape played perfectly. Result one emotional lady

 

[luvmytoolz]

If I could afford it I could quite happily retire and spend my days doing this, it'd be very rewarding being part of a community like this.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

That sounds like a great idea. I don't know of anything like that around here, but honestly never checked. There is a place very nearby, that does this with bicycles. They repair for locals and take in donations for repair/resale, which makes money to support itself. (at least that is the plan)
I've been there several times, as it is often a stopping point in group rides, but never really looked into it any deeper.
It's very near that bridge that I posted pics about a few days ago. I have plans to investigate a few things around the city when the weather co-operates a little more. I'm pretty sure my local bike shop would take a few volunteer hours too. I'm always amazed by how many people can't fix a flat tire, every spring brings out a lot of them.

 

[Vtshopdog]

We have a bike collective here too. They do all sorts of cool "fix bikes for transportation needs" repairs. I've not felt the urge to volunteer (too close to my former life) but have donated lots of NOS items leftover from when I closed my shop.