GREENFIELD — Do you have that one item that’s been broken but you just haven’t thrown it away yet, hoping that you can finally get around to fixing it?
Then you will want to go to Seymour, the pub this Sunday, to take part in the “Greenfield May Fixery.” The event, hosted by the nonprofit traveling repair group Repair Public, helps residents by teaching and helping them with repairs for a number of household items and reducing the amount of items being thrown away. The event is free to the public, though donations are accepted.
The event runs from 1 to 4:30 p.m. at the pub on Bank Row. Repair Public members will provide tools and expertise for repairs for items brought in by the public.
Depending on the weather, repair work will take place indoors or outside. If indoors, then items that can be brought for repairs are generally smaller appliances and furniture, clothing, toys, tools and electric items that are not computers. If weather permits outside repairs, then larger items, including combustion engine items, larger furniture and bicycles can also be brought in.
According to Ben Gagnon, who started Repair Public in February 2017, the general rule is if the items can be put into vehicles, then it can probably be brought by for repairs. The group’s website also notes for indoor events, less than 30 inches and under 15 pounds are suggested item dimensions; outdoor events’ suggested item size is up to 40 pounds.
Gagnon said the group will be holding the repair events monthly at different locations in the area, including Easthampton and Amherst.
Gagnon said Repair Public began after he saw an online video describing repair cafes, which were created to teach repairs in a social setting. The first cafe opened in Amsterdam on Oct. 18, 2009 by Martine Postma, according to Repair Cafe’s website.
According to Gagnon, Repair Public is different than the repair cafe concept because the group travels to different locations and offers the repairs instead of having one location where the assistance is offered.
Gagnon said his group wants to “demystify” the repair process, which could inspire others to learn more and fix items around their home instead of throwing them away.
“They may bring us a broken blender and when they leave, they leave with a fixed blender and story,” Gagnon said. “It’s not just the repair of the thing. It’s something that they can be proud of.”