Fix It, Don’t Toss It: Roxbury Repair Café

Fix It, Don’t Toss It: Roxbury Repair Café Set for May 3 11:00AM - 3:00PM

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Roxbury Public Library and Roxbury Fire Company No. 2

What do you do with a broken toaster? A broken bike? A dull kitchen knife? Toss it?  No way!  Thanks to a new partnership among the Roxbury Public Library, the Lake Hopatcong Foundation and Roxbury Township Recycling, residents are invited to the first-ever Roxbury Repair Café, where volunteer fixers will give items a second life -- completely free of charge.

The event will be held on Saturday, May 3, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and will take place across two locations to accommodate the range of repairs. The Roxbury Public Library, located at 103 Main Street in Succasunna, will host repair stations for household appliances, jewelry, textiles, sewing machines, lamps, and miscellaneous items. At the same time, Roxbury Fire Company No. 2, located at 110 Shippenport Road in Landing, will handle repairs for bicycles, computers and electronics, knife sharpening, and woodworking.

“We’re encouraging everyone who is interested to make appointments,” said Sam Fellman, Repair Café team lead at Roxbury Public Library.  “The more we know about what you’re bringing, the better we can prepare to fix it.”  

Appointments are encouraged to help repairers prepare in advance.  Walk-ins are welcome, but priority will be given to those with appointments.  Reservations can be made online at https://www.roxburylibrary.org/event/13389434.  Questions about the event can be directed to Sam Fellman at sam.fellman@roxburylibrary.org or by phone at (973) 584-2400.  Donations are gratefully accepted to help fund fix-it materials for future Repair Cafés.

More than 20 skilled volunteers will be on hand with the tools and know-how to help fix a variety of broken items brought from home.  Common categories include bicycles, electronics, small appliances, jewelry, textiles, lamps, sewing machines, woodworking projects, and various other odds and ends. If it’s broken, there’s a good chance someone at the Repair Café can help restore it.

“The volunteer fixers are the true heroes of the Repair Café,” said Kellie Ann Keyes of Roxbury Township Recycling.  “Their generosity not only keeps items out of the landfill but also strengthens our community and promotes sustainable living.”

Repair Cafés are a growing movement that brings communities together to reduce waste and share skills in a supportive, hands-on environment. Often held in libraries, community centers, and places of worship, this event marks the first of its kind in Roxbury.

“We’ve been wanting to be part of the Repair Café movement for a while, and this partnership is a great way to reduce waste and bring people together,” said Patrick Krudop, Education and Outreach Director at the Lake Hopatcong Foundation. “We look forward to this first event and to refining the process for future Repair Cafés.”

Following the May 3 event, the partnership will begin recruiting additional volunteer fixers for the next Roxbury Repair Café, already scheduled for October 18.  Roxbury Repair Café acknowledges the Friends of the Roxbury Library and Roxbury Rotary Club for their support in making the event possible.

About the Roxbury Public Library: 

Roxbury Library is our community crossroads for learning and discovery.  Each year, Roxbury Public Library serves more than 23,000 residents and neighbors with more than 200,000 check-outs and engagements through offerings of educational and enriching programs, concerts, lending books and audiovisual materials, and offering a wide array of digital content that allows our community members to access a vast array of books, audio-books, music, and film on their personal devices via their library card.  Roxbury Public Library offers expanded digital services, in person and online classes, passport services by appointment, an inventive Library of Things, and an abundance of helpful resources.  Visit us in person or at www.roxburylibrary.org.  

About the Lake Hopatcong Foundation:

The Lake Hopatcong Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to protecting the lake environment and enhancing the lake experience by bringing together public and private resources to encourage a culture of sustainability and stewardship on and around New Jersey’s largest lake, for this and future generations. To learn more, visit lakehopatcongfoundation.org.

About Roxbury Township Recycling:

Roxbury Township Recycling is dedicated to helping our community reduce waste, protect the environment, and meet our county’s recycling goals in compliance with state laws. We educate residents on what can and cannot be recycled, how to properly sort materials, and why recycling is important. By working together, we can maximize the benefits of recycling, reduce contamination, and ensure that our town contributes to a cleaner, more sustainable future. Roxbury residents are invited to download the free app Recycle Coach and sign up for Smart 911 to receive important notifications.  The Township of Roxbury also participates in the statewide Clean Communities program to reduce litter in public places, encourage volunteer cleanup of public lands, and maintain litter reduction through education and enforcement.  For more information: https://www.roxburynj.us/34/Recycling-Sanitation-information