At free community repair events, skilled volunteer “fixers” try to repair and mend your small household and personal items.
Upcoming King County repair events:
- Wednesday, March 15, 3-6pm, Burien Library | Facebook event page
- Saturday, April 22 (Earth Day), 1-4pm, Kent Library | Facebook event page
- Saturday, May 20, 10am-1pm, SeaTac Community Center | Facebook event page
- Tuesday, June 27, 3-6pm, Bellevue Library | Facebook event page
- Saturday, July 8, 1-4pm, Issaquah Library | Facebook event page
- Wednesday, Aug. 2, 3-6pm, Renton Library | Facebook event page.
For any of these events, there are no reservations or appointments, but an advance sign-up gives priority over walk-ins or second items. One signed-up item per event per person.
To request an advance sign-up for a specific event, or if you have questions, contact event coordinator Tom at tom.watson@kingcounty.gov or at 206-477-4481. Emails are best. Specify the event, and the kind of item you have.
Items that can potentially be worked on at these repair events include household and personal items that are small enough to be carried in by one person, including certain electronics, small furniture and clothing/textiles.
No cell phones, tablet computers or microwaves. Nothing that uses gasoline. No knife or tool sharpening. No lengthy reconstructive repairs. No major clothing alterations. Items brought in for repair, including clothing, must be clean.
We may decline to work on any item – in advance or at the event – depending on the item, the type of repair needed, the fixers available, or for other reasons.
For many types of items, area businesses offer repair services for a fee. These businesses are listed in the King County repair businesses directory, which has 18 different categories. Support those businesses, if you can!
The King County repair events program has held 74 free repair events, in 26 different cities and communities in King County. For the full list of dates and locations of past repair events see below.
Program partners include: King County Library System; the Bellevue-based Chinese youth organization Little Masters Clubexternal link ; and Bellevue-based Indian American Community Services.
Other area organizations may offer their own separate repair events programs (aka repair cafés, fix-it fairs and other names). Those organizations include the South King Tool Library in Federal Way (next event March 11), Snohomish County WSU Extension (next event March 25), Vashon MakerSpace and Tool Library, and Zero Waste Washington (next event March 18 in north Seattle).
Thanks everyone for your support of repair, which reduces waste and conserves resources!