Do you know we have a Repair Cafe in the Fox Cities?
Repair Cafe is hosted at the Neenah Library.
Today we are interviewing Amanda with Repair Cafe Fox Cities.
What is the Repair Cafe?
Repair Cafe’s are a movement that started in Europe a few years ago and are now making their way around the US like wildfire. They are basically a group of volunteer fixers gathered together in a community space with individual fixing stations like: jewelry, small appliances, computers, sewing and mending. People from the community are welcome to bring in their broken household items for us to look at and fix for free. The “Cafe” part traditionally means we also offer beverages and sometimes food for an even homey setting.
Where is the Repair Cafe located?
Our particular Repair Cafe is sponsored and run out of the Neenah Public Library
How did the Repair Cafe get started?
I think in a current state of divide, apathy, and over consumerism in the U.S. we are finding ourselves looking for natural grassroots solutions to pave a better society, and Repair Cafe is a beautiful way of filling that need we feel.
How did the idea of Fox Cities Repair Cafe develop?
My experience at the Oshkosh Repair cafe was so soul rewarding that I paired up with two other people from there, Jami and Bill, and we decided to start one in the Fox Cities. Then we partnered up with Mehta from the Neenah Library and put our heads together to get started finding fixers and deciding how we wanted to run our events. They are spinning off everywhere because of inspired people like us.
How did you get involved in the Repair Cafe?
I ran into my first Repair Cafe three years ago in Oshkosh. I instantly recognized how environmentally friendly the cause was and volunteered as a person that strives to be the change I want to see in the world. I knew this cause needed to be lifted and spread.
What is your role with the Repair Cafe?
I’m not an expert at fixing any one thing but I do have a big passionate personality and am good with a camera. So I apply my talents as greeter, runner, and the event photographer.
What are some of the benefits of the Repair Cafe?
Repair Cafe’s fight back against designed obsolescence, bring the community together to learn how to solve problems, grow us towards sustainability, and show people that volunteering and gifting in society is a valuable and good way of growing and progressing together. The best part is how nonpartisan the effort is. Everyone that walks into these events, no matter their affiliation, automatically understands this is a good solution for everyone. It smashes the divide.
How can I participate in the Repair Cafe Fox Cities?
You can e-mail us about your interest and we’ll get back to you with a volunteer form that you can fill out to figure out where you can fit in to be part of the cause. Our e-mail is: repaircafefoxcities@gmail.com
What are some of the skills your volunteers have offered at Repair Cafe Fox Cities?
The general skills we are looking for are people that are good at fixing computers, small appliances, furniture, bikes, sewing/mending, jewelry, greeting, advertising….and much more. We love new fixing ideas as well
What are your plans for the future of Repair Cafe Fox Cities?
We are all just regular people with jobs and busy lives, so we are just plugging away to make sure we hold at least quarterly events, but we’re always excited when people come in to learn how to run a Repair Cafe so that we can help them spread the cause to new cities and organizations. We want to see Repair Cafe’s continue to expand to every community in the U.S.
Where can we find more information about the Repair Cafe Fox Cities?
We have a Facebook page that you can check out. Here’s our link…
https://www.facebook.com/share/1FZFeEqoS6
Is there anything else you would like to share with us?
The world is hard to navigate right now and we’re all flailing for solutions of how we’re going to pull through as a community to make it through. Though Repair Cafe’s aren’t the full solution, but they are certainly a stepping stone and puzzle piece to a greater picture solution that we can grow towards in covering all of our basic human needs together as a community. We can catch ourselves through sustainable munincipalism! and Repair Cafe’s are an inspirational part of that vision.