NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — The Nashville Public Library's Richland Park branch is hosting a Repair Fair where volunteers fix broken household items at no cost, helping residents save money while reducing waste.
The event runs from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday at the Richland Park branch. All spots are currently full, but interested participants can join a waitlist by registering online.
Volunteers serve as "Fix-It coaches" in their areas of expertise, offering services including sewing repairs, home appliance fixes, software troubleshooting, knife sharpening and more.
Representatives from the library say they are about more than just books, but also building community. Like this program which helps people and keeps waste out of the landfill.
”I know that for me it's gonna save me a lot of money, for one thing, and also, I think that the impact is gonna be a lifestyle impact. Me being able to cut my vegetables easily with a good sharp knife or being able to keep this sweater that I really like without having to give it away or throw it away," said Adult Library Associate Ember Tharpe.
The program aims to keep functional items out of landfills by providing free repair services to the community. Rather than replacing broken toasters, vacuums, bikes and other household items, residents can bring them to skilled volunteers for restoration.
A representative with the library says so far in the years they’ve done this they’ve save about a half a ton worth of materials from going to the landfill… and they don’t plan on stopping there.
”The philosophy behind the library is that you borrow the book instead of going out and buying it. You can borrow it, give it back, share it with your neighbors. So that's kind of our philosophy as well with this program... is, you know, don't throw it away if you can meet up with one of your neighbors who can fix it for you,” said Public Information Officer Joan Brasher.
The Nashville Public Library will also host another Repair Fair at the Donelson Branch in November.
The Nashville Public Library requires advance registration for the Repair Fair. Those interested in future events can check the library's website for upcoming dates and availability.
Want to see how the Repair Fair works and learn more about the volunteer Fix-It coaches who make it possible? Watch our full report from the Richland Park branch and discover how you can get involved in this community sustainability effort. Have a broken item you'd like to see repaired? Contact Eric at Eric.Pointer@NewsChannel5.com to share your story.
This story was reported by Eric Pointer and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Eric Pointer and our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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