Makers Mill Repair Café celebrates year of community impact

WOLFEBORO — Makers Mill is celebrating another year of community repair, waste reduction, and hands-on skill sharing through its monthly Repair Café.

This year alone, the volunteer-powered Repair Café helped community members repair 83% of the items brought in, resulting in over $10,000 of estimated savings on would-be replacements. The program also contributed to significant environmental benefits, diverting waste from landfill-bound materials, while fostering dozens of new community connections across the Lakes Region.

At each event, neighbors bring in items for repair, such as lamps, chairs, necklaces, belts, jackets, tables, stained-glass pieces, walkers, sewing machines, small appliances, and more. Skilled volunteers donate their time to breathe new life into beloved objects and show participants how to maintain, mend, and troubleshoot them moving forward.

“These events aren’t just about fixing things,” said Makers Mill Executive Director Josh Arnold. “They’re about building a culture of practical skills, resourcefulness, and connection — something deeply needed in rural communities.”

Meredith Village Savings Bank has contributed an $800 sponsorship to support the Repair Café through the winter season. This funding goes toward the program’s overall operations — ensuring that tools, supplies, and volunteer resources remain available so the event can continue serving the community.

“This kind of support deepens the impact of the Repair Café in meaningful ways,” Arnold said. “It provides support for our volunteers and helps ensure that everyone in our community can benefit.”

To give volunteers and neighbors a well-deserved holiday pause, there will be no Repair Café in December. The next Repair Café will be held on Sunday, Jan. 25, and continues on the last Sunday of each month from 1-4 p.m.

For more information, visit makersmill.org.