Did you hear about SIRCH Community Services’ first Repair Café held in January? It was so much fun! 134 attendees participated in a fabulous day of fixing and community-building. Lots of items were repaired. Some needed additional parts and hopefully their owners will bring them back to another Repair Café. Children tried out the Tinker Table, assembled things, took things apart or built amazing items with a 3D printer supplied by the Haliburton County Public Library.
“There’s an amazing energy at SIRCH’s Repair Cafés—there’s a palpable feeling of hope and joy and comradery. And when the bell rings to indicate an item is fixed, everyone breaks out into applause!” exclaimed Chris Varga, SIRCH’s Repair Café Coordinator.
“Our first Repair Café in January was a huge success, thanks to the tremendous efforts of volunteer Fixers,” said Chris. “This amazing team of volunteer Fixers is back for our Repair Café on Saturday, March 7, ready to fix broken lamps, mend ripped clothes, rewire power tools, and repair jewelry. There is even an opportunity for children to make and repair toys!”
“This is perfect, I love this,” said a man who had a drone repaired at the first Repair Café. “This is some place to bring your stuff that otherwise they’d be telling you to trash it.”
“Efficient and people are very friendly,” exclaimed a woman who had a bath pillow repaired. “It’s an awesome thing to be able to come here, and get stuff fixed!”
If you have broken household items—small appliances, clothing, furniture, computers, audio equipment, jewelry, books, and porcelain—that need repairing, don’t miss out on the next Repair Café, held in Minden!
SIRCH’s Repair Café comes to Archie Stouffer Public School (gymnasium), at 12 Vintage Crescent, Minden, on Saturday, March 7, 2020 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Repairs are 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.
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.
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.