At the last Repair Cafe in January, 18 volunteers fixed various items, including work on six lamps, one vacuum cleaner, two radios, numerous articles of clothing, chairs, sofas and more.

 

Anyone a small repairable broken item (other than CRT monitors, televisions, watches and shoes) can bring it to the next Repair Cafe between 1 and 5 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 16. If your broken item needs a part, and you know what it needs, it will save you time if you bring the part with you. You can watch your item being repaired and learn a little about how repairs are done.

 

One of the innovations for the February Repair Cafe is mini-workshops. This month, there'll be two mini-workshops. If you'd like to know the proper way to sew on a button, come in at 2 p.m. and bring an item missing a button, as well as a matching button and thread, if you can. (Some buttons and thread colors will be on hand, but repair persons can't guarantee a match.) And if your vacuum cleaner needs the belt replaced and you'd like to be able to replace it yourself next time, bring the vacuum and the replacement belt at 4 p.m. to learn how.

 

Repair Cafe volunteers are also offering free refreshments.

 

If you would like to help with the process, you can volunteer to repair, perform general help or play the piano. Donations are also acceptable. To make a donation or to volunteer, call Tom Harter at 413-212-8589 or email Janet Henderson at jmh227@hotmail.com.