The Repair Revolution is Here!
Have you heard about the global repair café movement? As with most brilliant ideas, the concept is at once simple and genius.
It all began in Amsterdam in 2009 by Martine Postma, a visionary striving to find a way to reverse our throwaway economy on a grassroots level. She opened the first all-volunteer neighborhood repair café under this hypothesis; why should we keep throwing away broken stuff when a simple fix could make them good as new and reduce landfill matter. The idea was a hit and with volunteers and backers she took the movement worldwide.
There is an added benefit that is more relevant than ever today – socializing with people, using our hands for something other than holding our phones and avoiding in person contact. Whether you are a volunteer repair person or you are utilizing the services, the chance to bond and build community goes both ways.
Beyond the Netherlands, there are repair cafes in Belgium, Germany, France, the UK, India, Japan and across the U.S. There are currently five repair cafes in New Jersey, including JC. See below for the details of the next event:
When: Sunday, June 25 from 1:00pm – 5:00pm
Where: Grace Church Van Vorst (in the gym). 39 Erie St. between 2nd and 3rd St.
What you can Bring: Limit of two items per person. Past events have allowed you to bring
· Lamps, toasters, vacuum cleaners, irons, hair dryers & other small electrics
· Textiles, clothing, soft toys, and jewelry
· Non-upholstered wooden furniture, frames
· Computers and other digital devices
· Dull knives to be sharpened
How you Can Help: If you can, bring a non-perishable (can/box) food donation
For more information or to volunteer, contact Elizabeth Knight: eknightmoss@gmail.com, 845-741-3646
https://www.repaircafegs.org/our-locations/jersey-city