OUR MISSION
- To transform our throw-away economy, one beloved item at a time
- To reduce how much stuff goes into the waste stream
- To preserve traditional repair know-how & skills, and pass them on
- To show the people who have this knowledge that they are valued
- To feed our curiosity about “the way things work”, provide scientific diversion & have fun!
- To foster community, sustainability, and resilience
The Repair Café idea was born in Amsterdam in 2009 and was brought to New Paltz by volunteer organizer John Wackman in 2013. His dedication, enthusiasm, and success inspired others to launch Repair Cafe events in their communities. If you are interested in bringing Repair Cafe to your community, John would be happy to point you in the right direction (email John). You can also check out the Repair Cafe Foundation, where it all began, for resources, guidelines, and all the details.
New Paltz Repair Cafe
This time at the Repair Cafe in New Paltz:
KIDS TAKE-APART AND REUSE ACTIVITIES! Bring the family!
We are combining our supervised Kids Take-Apart Table with the New Paltz Reuse Center’s “Crafting Table of Wonders.” The result: Creative Re-use! There will be lots of interesting items for the kids to take apart, to see what’s inside and learn about what makes things work. Then, the kids will use the parts to make something new and find “possibilities in the pieces.” All supervised by our “Creative Reuse Specialists” including Amy Bloomfield from the Department of Environmental Conservation and Holly Shader, middle school science teacher.
And as always – bring your beloved but broken item to be repaired…for FREE… by your neighbor who is also an expert!
Repair categories include:
- mechanical, electrical electronic & digital items
- clothing & textiles
- jewelry
- things made of wood
- dolls & stuffed animals
In addition!
- Our metal welder Vince is on-site (weather permitting); Don will digitally restore your damaged or faded photographs
- well-known author Vern Benjamin will give you his well-considered advice on any piece of writing you bring to him.
Note: we do not offer bicycle repair or gasoline engine repair at our New Paltz Repair Cafes.
If you want to bring something you’re not sure we can repair, please get in touch with us ahead of time. Contact John at jwackman@gmail.com or call 646-302-5835.
Sponsored by New Paltz United Methodist Church, Climate Action Coalition, Town of New Paltz Recycling & Reuse Program, and the Mid Hudson Group of the Sierra Club. Thank you all for your support!
10 spaces available
Registration is closed for this event.
