By the time he arrived with the little girl who loved him, the stuffed bear had lost the voice he once had.
And on a Saturday in April, they came to Repair Cafe Chandler hoping to get it back.
After visiting the tinkering table, where his electronic voice box was repaired, the bear was brought to the textiles table to get stuffed and stitched back up. When all was sewn and done, their dream came true as the bear spoke his first words in years.
The fuzzy friend was just one of the treasured items that volunteer handymen and handywomen fixed up at Repair Cafe Chandler’s first event. Held every quarter at the Chandler First Church of the Nazarene, this restoration pop-up provides free repair services to walk-ins bearing just about anything that can be held or wheeled in.
A hair dryer, cell phone, vacuum cleaner, air pump, clothing, lawn tools, and pieces that needed sharpening such as knives and even a machete were among them.
There was also a rotary phone circa 1959, and a 100-year-old bicycle had volunteers from Bike Saviour— a nonprofit collective that specializes in bike repair—drooling.
At the end of the day, 30 volunteers repaired 65 items during the six-hour event.
Representatives from the Chandler Public Library were on site to assist people with getting library cards, as well as checking out DIY books. Guests were treated to free snacks and beverages, while a live musician played in the background.
“Everybody was there to have a good time,” says Melissa Anderson, founder of Repair Cafe Chandler, of her nonprofit’s inaugural event. The next one is scheduled for July 23, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
The cafe is completely volunteer-organized and -operated, with volunteers filling out a form on the cafe’s Facebook page stating their areas of expertise.
The Chandler branch is one of many that comprise a worldwide movement started by Martine Postma, a Dutch environmentalist and former journalist who founded the Repair Cafe in the Netherlands.
Anderson, an administrator for the church that hosts the cafe, had organized Mend with a Friend, a sewing group that drew experienced and first-timers alike. It was a way to keep as much fabric out of the landfills while bringing people together over sewing projects.
When Anderson was informed about a grant that would allow her to start a local Repair Cafe, she was immediately on board.
“The concept was similar. We said, ‘Hey, let’s do that!’” Anderson recalls.
Through Repair Cafe, Anderson aims to reduce waste by fixing already-owned items. As the word gets out, she hopes to draw more volunteers in more skill areas to broaden the offerings.
The stuffed bear’s owner was part of a family of eight who came to volunteer.
Anderson likes that the event serves as a fun and different family activity. It also could be a good out-of-the-box team-building experience for companies.
The overall vibe, however, is fueled by everyone having a good time connecting with others over fix-it projects.
“We’re seeing the community come together and helping each other,” Anderson says, “We’re fixing things and making friends.” Facebook.com/repaircafeaz