Don’t toss out your items around the house that need a little more love! Head to Repair Cafe Pasadena and learn how to fix it yourself from the experts.
This Saturday, August 23rd, from 10 am to 1 pm, you can get a little help from your local community while keeping waste from landfills. This week’s event will be held at the Altadena Library. Bring your electronics, small appliances, and clothing for repair while also learning a new skill!
What is a Repair Cafe?
Repair Cafe Pasadena is part of the global Repair Cafe movement. These are community-run gatherings where people bring in broken household items, like lamps, textiles, small appliances, electronics, bikes, and more, and get help mending them for free with the guidance of volunteer “repair coaches.” These repair coaches work with you to mend your item. It’s not just about fixing the item. The aim is also to teach practical repair skills.
Why do Repair Cafes matter?
Beyond empowering people with new skills, local Repair Cafes create a powerful impact on sustainability. At each event, 50-100 items are typically repaired, giving them a second life and preventing hundreds of pounds of waste from ending up in landfills. This not only conserves resources but also significantly cuts CO₂ emissions. Just as importantly, the Repair Cafes strengthen community ties, bringing together neighbors of all ages to share knowledge, exchange skills, and build lasting connections.
What are Tinkers and Stitchers?
Tinkers and Stitchers are the best-known backbone of Repair Cafe, fixing electronics, small appliances, and clothing at each event. However, keep in mind that this is a volunteer event, and no one is a professional. They will try to fix your items to the best of their ability, but sometimes it’s just not possible to fix every item. They are a “group of people passionate about reduce, reuse, recycle just trying to help out the community, so please be patient and kind!”
Stations at the upcoming Repair Cafe will include:
- electronic repair (tinkers)
- stitching
- computer help
- jewelry repair
- bike repair
- woodworking
*Note that the goal is to finish all repairs before 1 pm! For tinker repairs (appliances, electronics, etc.), they will likely need to stop accepting repairs before noon, so make sure to arrive early for the best chance of getting your item looked at.
Really, Really, Free Market
They will also have a Really, Really, Free Market. Bring things to donate, or come shop the market for free! However, they ask that donations please be limited to a size that can be carried by a single individual.
Repair Cafe Pasadena
📍 Where: Altadena Library (600 E Mariposa St, Altadena, CA 91001)
📆 When: Saturday, August 23rd from 10 am to 1 pm