Repair
The ReUse Committee organizes Community RePair events, where local, volunteer "Fixperts" are matched with City of Northampton residents who need things fixed. Participants are invited to bring a household item in need of repair and a member of the assembled Fixpert team will attempt to fix it free of charge. Please note that participants are required to sign an acknowledgement form and stay with their item while it is being worked on (it is not a drop off-style event.)
The final 2018 Community RePair workshop was held on September 22. Check this page in late February for a list of 2019 dates.
Both the volunteers and the items brought in for repair vary from event to event. We typically have Fixperts with sewing skills (standard clothing and heavy duty material such as leather and canvas), and repair skills for bicycles, lamps, laptop computers, cell phones, and small appliances. Knife and garden tool sharpening is also frequently available (a limit of one item per customer applies). We can't promise that we'll have the time or ability to fix everything. Please view the list of available fix-it opportunities for the next Community RePair event below before selecting an item to bring in for repair.
Limited supplies for the event are provided from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Recycling Dividends grant program, but some projects will require participants to purchase additional materials at a local hardware store. Voluntary donations to offset event expenses are encouraged.
While we can't guarantee that we will have the same still set at each event, we typically offer light repair and/or problem diagnosis for the following types of items:
- Bicycles
- Garments (machine & hand sewing)
- Knitted garments (darning)
- Computers
- Hand-held devices (phones, tablets)
- Electric appliances
- Knife sharpening
- Furniture
A list of skills available during upcoming RePair events will be posted on this page. Please check back as the date draws closer. The most accurate list will be available the day before the event.
Interested in joining the Community RePair team?
We are always on the lookout for people interested in joining the Community RePair volunteer team. Whether you are someone with repair skills or someone who is willing to pitch in to help our events run more smoothly, we would like to talk with you . Please email Susan Waite or call 413-587-1059.