A "repair cafe" is an event where volunteers attempt to repair broken household items the people bring in for repair. These events are generally run by a non-profit or not-for-profit, and offer the event to the community free of charge. Volunteer repairers are passionate hobbyists, crafters, makers, craftsmen, and professionals, working together to try to keep your treasured items out of the landfill.

Generally, you can bring anything you can carry that you think is repairable! 

If we won't be able to fix an item, or if it will take too long, we will let you know soon after you arrive. We will have specialists who focus on one type of repair, and generalists who can repair various categories of items. Not every event will have the same people repairing items. We will advertise our repairer specialties on the event page for each specific event.

Items that might be possible to repair: Textiles, clothing, stuffed animals, jewelry, beads, computers, electronics, lamps, furniture, wood items, upholstery, plastics, scratched or chipped paint, ceramics, pottery, knives (sharpening), bicycles (tune-ups, tires), metal items, glass and picture frames, books (binding), watches (battery, band replacement), phones or tablets (factory reset, screens, batteries), instruments (brass, woodwind, drums, guitar repair, tuning)

Yes, mostly! We do not have an entrance fee or ask for payment for repairing items. We are hosting this event for all people, regardless of their financial situation at home. While we hold the event at the Charles River Museum of Industry which normally has an entrance fee, we do so on a "free day".

However, when we repair some items, we may need to use replacement parts and consumables that the repairers purchased themselves. In those cases, if you are able, please tip your repairers to ensure they can replenish their stock. In addition, a percentage of donations to the Waltham Repair Cafe will be donated back to the Charles River Museum of Industry, to help them with their costs.

Yes, and no. While we hold events at the Charles River Museum of Industry, we do not have a permanent location between events. As such, any materials or tools brought for the events are owned by our volunteers. We are simply a collection of people who want to help repair your well-loved items and who want to help keep things out of the landfill.

All items you bring to Waltham Repair Cafe events must be taken home with you after the event, regardless of condition. We do not have a dumpster and we cannot dispose of items that cannot be repaired. Please bring everything home with you and dispose of unwanted items in your household trash.

Yes! There are a few specific items that we always need: superglue, lamp parts (cords, bulb sockets, and lamp harps), and of course, snacks and coffee. We will happily take cash donations to replace consumables, and our repairers are happy to take tips to help replace the materials they used during their repairs.

Please reach out to us at info@walthamrc.org with any questions you may have about volunteering or attending an event. We will have sign-up forms on our home page for volunteers and attendees, so keep your eyes peeled there!