That lamp that flickers and the blender that hums but won't spin can stay out of the trash a little longer. A Bloomington church is hosting a fix-it clinic Saturday, where volunteers will help residents diagnose, troubleshoot and fix broken household items.
It's one of Hennepin County's monthly fix-it clinics. This one runs Saturday, October 10, at St. Stephen Lutheran Church, 8400 France Avenue South. Doors are open from noon to 4 p.m., but the city says the last items are accepted at 3:30 p.m. If your coffee maker needs real attention, don't show up at 3:55.
It's free, it's family friendly and you don't need to register. The county says help is first come, first served, so getting there early gives you the best shot at a volunteer's time. Bring small household appliances, clothing, electronics, mobile devices and similar items. The county lists blenders, toasters, lamps, sewing machines and clothes that need mending as typical repairs. The city's listing adds vacuum cleaners, fans, smartphones and laptops.
There's one firm rule: you have to be able to carry your item in yourself. Oversized things stay home, so the treadmill and the chest freezer are out. Volunteers bring plenty of tools, so you don't need your own, but the city suggests bringing any parts and supplies that might help. That replacement cord or bulb you already bought could come in handy.
Don't expect a drop-off repair counter. Volunteers with repair skills walk you through taking the item apart, figuring out what's wrong and, in the county's words, "(hopefully)" fixing it. You might leave with a working toaster and a better idea of what's inside it. At worst, you'll know it really is done before you throw it out.
If you miss this one, the county's next clinics are Saturday, November 14, at Central Lutheran Church and Saturday, December 12, at Mount Olivet Lutheran Church of Plymouth. If you're the one in the family who can fix anything, the county wants volunteers with mechanical, electrical, computer repair, sewing or general tinkering skills. Contact Nancy Lo at nancy.lo@hennepin.us or 612-348-9195. For questions about Saturday's clinic, the city says to call 952-563-8726.
