Get a quick fix at the Ottawa Tool Library's debut Repair Caf - Action News
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Ottawa

Get a quick fix at the Ottawa Tool Library's debut Repair Caf

The organizers of this weekend's free Repair Caf want to shake people out of the mindset that they have to toss out anything that's broken and pass along the skills to fix things, too.

Caf visitors can bring their busted stuff and see if it can be repaired for free

Ottawa Tool Library co-founder Bettina Vollmerhausen, left, and volunteer Marit Quist-Corbett, right, will be helping out Saturday at the local non-profit's first-ever Repair Caf. (Julie Delaney/CBC)

Maybe it's a bucket with a wonky handle, acomputer hard drive with a mysterious malady, or simply a ragged pair of jeans.

Regardless of what needs fixing, the Ottawa Tool Library is promising help will be on hand this Saturday.

The local not-for-profitis hosting its inaugural Repair Cafat its headquarters inside the City Centre building.

"We have people who can help you with furniture items, anything with carpentry, small appliances like kettles or toasters [that] are not working any more, computers, textiles, sewing, leather,"said Bettina Vollmerhausen, the library's co-founder.

"We hopefully have for afirst-time [event] covered a lot of bases. And we'll see how it goes."

Not many people fix things any more. They just go, 'Oh, it's only 20 bucks.I'll just by another one, whatever.- BettinaVollmerhausen, co-founder of the Ottawa Tool Library

Vollmerhausen and library volunteer Marit Quist-Corbett, told CBC Ottawa'sAll In A Daythat part of the motivation behind Saturday's event is to shake people out of the mindset that they have to toss out anything that's broken.

They also want topass along some basic repair skills.

"We want to teach how to do it. If it can't be done, we also hope that we can say, 'Look, come back another time, or go and see this person,'" saidQuist-Corbett, sitting in front of her own busted kettle.

"There are lots of people who are willing to give their time, who are passionate about keeping things out of the landfill."

"Not many people fix things any more," addedVollmerhausen. "They just go, 'Oh, it's only 20 bucks.I'll just buy another one, whatever.'"

The free event which also includescoffee and cookies, as befits its designation as a caf runs from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. at 250 City Centre Ave., bay 216.