The Fixit It Fair will invite residents to make an appointment to bring in personal items, such as toasters, bicycles or jewelry, for free repair. The “right to repair” and the ability to fix materials is crucial to transitioning away from a disposal society. Fixers are key to saving useful materials from landfills.
Montgomery County’s Department of Environmental Protection is supporting the event, which is sponsored by Gaithersburg’s Environmental Affairs Committee and will be held during Green Month. It is hoped the event will encourage the reuse of items rather than having them having them thrown out.
The Casey Community Center is located at 810 S Frederick Ave. in Gaithersburg.
To make the Fix It Fair operational, the organizers are seeking volunteer “fixers” who will be provided with basic information on each appointment up to two weeks in advance of the event. Fixers must provide the necessary equipment and tools for their area of expertise. The City will provide basic materials and disposables needed to perform the repairs, tables, areas for repair work and the opportunity to advertise fixer repair businesses if appropriate.
Volunteer fixers also will receive coffee, beverages and a hot boxed lunch.
Additional details for potential volunteer fixers can be found at https://www.gaithersburgmd.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/10356.
Those interested in volunteering as fixers should send an email to environment@gaithersburgmd.gov by March 1. The email should include the type of items the volunteer can repair and mention their experience in repairing small items.
Residents with items to repair must register online up to two weeks prior to the event. Bookings will be in 30-minute time slots. Attendees will be informed that each repair will occur during the appointed time and that a complete fix is not guaranteed at the event.
Registration to have items repaired will open on March 7 and close on April 8—or when all time slots are filled. The link to register will be available at https://www.gaithersburgmd.gov/services/search?q=fix%20it%20fair.
Guidelines regarding COVID-19 protocols for indoor events will be followed at the event.