Handy People Sought For Repair Cafés In Rockland

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY — The Repair Cafe movement continues to grow in popularity, and the Rockland County Youth Bureau has scheduled three for April.

• April 6: Valley Cottage Library
• April 20: St Thomas Aquinas College
• April 27: New City Street Center.

Repair Café is a community event where people can bring broken household items to be repaired for free by volunteer Repair Coaches. The Repair Café mission is to fix rather than dispose of useful or beloved but broken objects, saving money, keeping things in circulation rather than the landfill, plus passing down valuable skills and building community.

"So many of our possessions are replaced at the first sign of a glitch," Rockland County Executive Ed Day said, commenting on our current "throw-away society."

The youth bureau is looking for Repair Coaches for the events.

People of all ages are welcome to be a Repair Coach, and no formal or professional experience is necessary. Repair Coaches are at least 18 years old with repair skills in trades or crafts such as small appliances, woodworking/carpentry, electrical, electronics, sewing, computers, and costume jewelry.

Volunteers are needed for three hours per event. Repair Coaches will collaborate heavily with the public, with other repair people, and with students looking to learn more about trades.

"Preserving repair know-how skills by passing them on to the younger generation is critical to Rockland’s shared future," Day said. "We hope you will bring your expertise and join us."

The event is coordinated by the Rockland Conservation & Service Corps (a program of the Rockland County Youth Bureau and the County of Rockland) and Rockland Green.

Interested in helping? Please contact Kathy Galione, Volunteer Coordinator for Repair Café at 845-364-2932 or by e-mailing rcsc@co.rockland.ny.us.

Have items you'd like to return to working order? There will be several repair stations at the April events, including electronics, lighting, furniture, toys, small appliances, digital devices, and jewelry.

The Youth Bureau plans to hold more Repair Cafes in June and October.