What do you do with a broken toaster? Or with a wobbly chair? Or with a sweater full of moth holes? Toss it away? No way! Instead, bring it to SIRCH Community Services’ new Repair Cafés!
Repair Cafés help people repair broken household items—small appliances, clothing, furniture, bicycles, computers, audio equipment, jewelry, books, porcelain, and more—that could otherwise end up in landfills. Originally begun in 2009 in the Netherlands, Repair Cafés now take place all over the world. SIRCH is excited to bring Repair Cafés to Haliburton County.
SIRCH’s first Repair Café takes place on Saturday, January 25, 2020 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Haliburton Highlands Secondary School (gymnasium), 5358 Hwy 21, Haliburton.
“We have an amazing team of volunteer Fixers ready to fix broken lamps, mend ripped clothes, change bike tires, and repair torn book covers,” said Chris Varga, SIRCH’s Repair Café Coordinator. “Your Fixer will show you how to repair your item and work with you to get it fixed. Or you can request advice and guidance and carry out the repair yourself. Fixers will work on one item per visitor.”
A recent study states that Canadians produce more garbage per capita than any other country on earth. Each Canadian generates approximately 2.7 kg of garbage each day. Communities across the country—including Haliburton County—struggle with an increasing amount of residential waste that ends up in local landfills. SIRCH’s Repair Cafés are a vital way to help reduce the amount of waste that needs to be disposed of by giving household items a new life.
“If you know your repair will require replacement parts, for example buttons or a bicycle tire tube, please bring the parts with you. The Fixer may give you a list of parts required so they can complete the repair at a future Repair Café event,” stated Chris. “The work carried out at the Repair Café is done free of charge. A donation jar will be available if you’d like to ‘pay it forward’. Donations are appreciated, but there is no expectation.”
SIRCH’s Repair Café is funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation. The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations. OTF awarded $108 million to 629 projects last year to build healthy and vibrant communities in Ontario.