Repair Café returns to Redlands with free fixes for broken household items

REDLANDS, Calif. — Instead of tossing out a broken household item, Redlands residents are invited to give it a second life at a free Repair Café later this month.

Hosted by Accelerate Neighborhood Climate Action (ANCA) Redlands and sponsored by Ace Hardware, the Repair Café will take place from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, July 25, at the Flores Senior Center, 111 W. Lugonia Ave.

Volunteer repair experts will be on hand to fix a variety of household items at no cost, including bicycles, toys, clothing and textiles, computers, watches and clocks, jewelry, lamps, small appliances and electronics.

The event is part of an international movement promoting repair over replacement to reduce landfill waste, conserve resources and strengthen community connections through shared skills.

"Our throw-away culture creates enormous amounts of waste," Repair Café Coordinator Dick Corneille said in a statement. "Many items that people assume are beyond repair can often be fixed with a little time and expertise. The Repair Café not only saves people money, but it also helps conserve resources, reduce waste, and bring neighbors together."

While repairs are free, donations to support future Repair Cafés are appreciated.

Organizers encourage participants to register in advance at repaircafe.ancaredlands.org to help volunteers prepare the necessary tools and parts.

Registration also allows attendees to select a preferred drop-off time of 9, 10 or 11 a.m. Walk-ins will be accepted as space permits until 11 a.m., though priority will be given to those who pre-register.

ANCA is also seeking volunteers with repair skills who would like to join future events. Those interested in volunteering or learning more can contact Dick Corneille at dickc@ancainlandempire.org.