Free Fix-It Clinics Offered by Hennepin County

Editor's note: Information provided by Hennepin County.

Sewing machine won’t sew? Toaster won’t work? Toy helicopter won’t fly?

Hennepin County Environmental Services’ will be offering two Fix-it Clinics and volunteers will help repair those broken items to use them again.

Hennepin is asking residents to bring in household items in need of repair as part of its waste-reduction efforts. At first-ever Fix-It Clinics this fall, county staff will work with handy volunteers to help you disassemble, troubleshoot and fix your broken household items and electronics, clothing in need of mending, and more.

There are two clinics scheduled, and more are planned. The first two pilot Fix-It Clinics are:

• Saturday, Sept. 15: 1 – 5 p.m.
  , 5244 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis

• Sunday, Oct. 7: 12:30 – 4:30 p.m.
  , 7001 York Ave. S., Edina

The clinics are first-come, first-served – there’s no pre-registration. Bring in an item and you’ll be helped by a volunteer with repair skills.

“The Fix-It Clinics are designed to reduce the amount of stuff that gets thrown in the trash, teach valuable troubleshooting and basic repair skills, and build community connections,” says Nancy Lo, Hennepin County Environmental Services.

Peter Mui, who founded a series of Fix-It Clinics in the San Francisco Bay area, will be helping out at the event.

"Fix-It Clinic provides a nurturing environment that reassures people that taking broken stuff apart is okay,” says Mui. "Many things are easily repaired; people just need to feel comfortable disassembling them to figure out what's wrong."

Volunteer fixers – or “Fix-It Coaches” – are needed to make the program a success. Do you have skills in soldering, electronics and electrical repair, sewing, wood-working or general tinkering? Call and volunteer.

Bringing in a broken or nonfunctioning item? It must be carry-in only (no oversized items). Bring any tools that might be helpful, a digital camera to document the disassembly, and small boxes or bags to organize and carry home parts. 

More information: www.hennepin.us/fixitclinic or  612-348-3777.