The Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley, with support from Maynard High School and the Repair Cafe Foundation, hosted its first Repair Café for Maynard, MA on Saturday, September 21. More than 40 people brought knives and garden tools for sharpening, lamps for fixing, clothes and sweaters for mending, and many other items for repair, including cell phones, laptop computers, CD players, a mower and chainsaw, and even a VHS player among others. The positive response guarantees another Maynard event, targeting spring 2020.

At a Repair Café, everything centers on making repairs. Knowledgeable volunteers help repair items such as clean and mendable clothing, knitted and crocheted items, lamps, small appliances, computers and other electronics, bikes, toys, and jewelry. They also sharpen knives, scissors, and garden tools. Participants pay only for needed parts. The fix is free!
 
Volunteers at the Repair Café look at all items brought in and help try to repair them. When the volunteers cannot repair something that is repairable, they offer suggestions about where to go for repairs.

Unlike a "fix-it" shop, where people drop off items to be repaired and continue about their day, the Repair Café is meant to get people involved with the repair process, and create connections with others in the community. People bringing in items for repair are asked to stay while their items are being fixed. They can just watch, help with the repair, fix the items themselves with help from volunteers, or just have a snack and visit with neighbors.
 
The Maynard Repair Cafe was supported by 30 volunteers with skills for computers and electronics, bikes, locksmiths, furniture and carpentry, knife sharpening, sewing and mending, and more. For future reference, please bring parts that may be needed to help with your repair.