Annual Repair Cafe Continues Positive Community Impact

By Sarah Katan

On a beautiful Saturday morning, the Claverack Free Library hosted their annual Repair Cafe. In anticipation of the day, I dutifully wrapped up a couple of kitchen knives, dusted a broken lamp stored in the basement and pulled out a favorite flannel shirt with a torn seam. At best, I knew I would get these items into better working order. At worst, I would learn how to fix them myself. No matter what, I knew I was in for some good conversations with my neighborhood fixers.

As I waited in line to register my item (only one item at a time, in order to keep the flow of items to the fixers smooth) I took in the scope of this year’s Cafe. I saw stands to support bikes, drop cloths out, sewing machines, and tool boxes open and ready. All stations populated by individuals ready and willing to help in any way they could.

My lamp was a problem-solving endeavor. Ed, who was a general fix-it guy, and I were able to narrow down the problem area and soon determined I needed a new socket, the part of the lamp that acts as the conduit between the electricity and the bulb.

Although Ed did not have any new sockets on hand, he encouraged me to head to a hardware store to purchase one so I could repair it myself. Since I have some electrical experience, I feel confident I will be able to mend my lamp, a favorite of mine that was in my grandfather’s childhood home in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont.

My knives were passed on to Repair Cafe mainstay Doug Craig. I believe he was one of the busiest fixers that day, with a steady stream of knives placed at his station. Despite that, the generosity of spirit was exemplified when Doug showed a young attendee the ins and outs of sharpening.

The Claverack Repair Cafe may only happen once a year, but there are other Repair Cafes hosted all over the Hudson Valley. To keep up to date of where and when the next ones are scheduled, visit Repair Cafe - Hudson Valley on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RepairCafeHudsonValley