Repair Cafes are free community gatherings where skilled volunteer “Repair Coaches” help neighbors fix broken household items. Repair initiatives divert usable items from landfills, build DIY skills, and help shift our cultural mindset to one that embraces circular economy.
To establish a repair event in your community, you’ll need:
Outreach: Promote the event far ahead to time through multiple channels to gather interest and gain visibility to attract potential volunteers and attendees.
Volunteers: Recruit community members who are organized and skilled in different types of repair.
Venue: Find accessible locations available on weekends, such as libraries or other community centers that have tables and power outlets.
Tools and Supplies: Tools can be borrowed or donated through community support; fixers can also bring their own tools.
Funding: Events are run on donations, grants, or sponsorships. Donations can be requested to cover supplies/food/coffee.
Publicize: Highlight the types of repairs offered at the event. Consider having people pre-register to help estimate attendance.
Data: Collect information on the items repaired, the number of attendees, and feedback from fixers to track the success of your event.
For more information on starting a repair event in your area, watch this video presented by Repair Cafe Hudson Valley and visit their website.
Central New York
In spring 2025, Repair Cafe CNY relaunched community repair events in Syracuse after a pause in events from the pandemic.
Built on guidance from established repair programs like Repair Cafe Hudson Valley. Repair Cafe CNY aims to serve as a collaborative hub between repair programs across Central New York.
Emerging repair programs can connect with Repair Cafe CNY’s resources and professional network for free – since collaboration is at the heart of every repair event.
In addition to offering assistance to other emerging community repair programs, Repair Cafe CNY also hosts recurring repair events of its own.
A recent event had a fix rate of 79% for the 24 items serviced. The most common items brought to be fixed were knives, lamps, and clothing.
Think about contributing to a culture of repair and connection within your community.
You can reach out to Recycling@dec.ny.gov if you are starting or have a repair event in your community so they can help spread the word.
Photo of a Repair Cafe at Electric City Barn in Schenectady provided by Repair Cafe Hudson Valley.
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