A broken lamp, a dismantled toy, a bicycle left in the garage for months will be given a second chance on Saturday, Nov. 8, when the Peekskill Elks Lodge #744 opens the doors of its hall at 1038 Brown Street for a new edition of the Peekskill Repair Café. The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is free to the public. Visitors are invited to bring damaged household items — from textiles and jewelry to small appliances — to receive help from a team of volunteers and repair coaches willing to share their time and technical skills.
The initiative is part of an international network of Repair Cafés, but in Peekskill it has a distinct character: a community-driven effort rooted in service, sustainability, and learning. Organizer Johanne Read, Community Event Chair of the lodge, said the idea came after a personal experience. “I was inspired to bring the Repair Café to Peekskill after attending one myself — I loved the energy, the generosity, and the simple idea of people helping others fix what they can rather than throw things away.”
With that same spirit, the lodge decided to make the idea an annual event aligned with its mission of service and community connection. Read explained that beyond fixing things, the event meets a real community need. “Many people have items they cherish or use daily that might be too costly to repair professionally, and this gives them a chance to bring those things back to life for free.”
Participants will be able to bring a wide variety of items: lamps, small appliances, mechanical tools, clothing, home textiles, knives for sharpening, pieces of jewelry, or bicycles. Basic materials and spare parts — such as cords, light bulbs, or bicycle components — will be available at partial or no cost. “We will have a great mix of fixers,” Read said, emphasizing the collaboration between technical volunteers and participants.
Among the most anticipated stations this year is the return of Karmic Cycles, offering maintenance for bicycles and scooters, and the addition of a jewelry repair area. Read noted that she will spend this edition learning directly from Suzie, one of the most experienced repairers in the Hudson Valley. “I am also shadowing Suzie this time to learn jewelry repair so I can bring that skill to future Repair Cafés.”
The event atmosphere combines the precision of a workshop with the warmth of a neighborhood gathering. Volunteers, known as repair coaches, not only fix objects but also teach. “If a participant wants to learn, the repairers walk them through what they are doing and explain how to handle it if the problem happens again.” The constant interaction among neighbors, visitors, and experts turns each repair into a hands-on learning experience.
Read said that over time, she has noticed a change in how people value their belongings. “People are starting to see that repair is possible and valuable. They leave with more appreciation for craftsmanship, and some even return to volunteer or try fixing things at home.” That shared sense of sustainability, she explained, has created a ripple effect of care and awareness in the community.
Stories collected at the event reflect that sense of connection. One that stands out, Read recalled, involved a woman who brought in her mother’s old vacuum cleaner. “Our volunteers tried several approaches before finally getting it to work again. Watching her face light up — and seeing her son, who had been waiting patiently, share that joy — was unforgettable.”
Sometimes, despite the volunteers’ best efforts, an item cannot be restored, but the gesture itself matters. “Even when an item cannot be fixed, people are still so grateful someone tried to help.” For Read, those moments are as meaningful as successful repairs, because they nurture collective learning and gratitude.
The Repair Café also welcomes those who have nothing to fix. Visitors can volunteer as greeters, assist with check-ins, or simply observe and learn. Beyond the repaired objects, the event has another charitable purpose. “So bringing a food donation is another great way to contribute,” Read added.
Behind every workstation, every tightened screw, and every stitched seam, there is a deeper goal: weaving a network of neighbors. “It is truly about community coming together to share time, skills, and care,” Read said.
The Peekskill Repair Café is part of a network of more than 2,500 Repair Cafés worldwide, promoted by the Repair Café International Foundation, with locations across Europe, Asia, and North America. In the Hudson Valley, these events continue to grow under the coordination of RepairCafeHV.org, supported by municipalities, libraries, environmental organizations, and civic groups.
In Peekskill, the event has become a meeting place for generations: older residents sharing trades with younger ones, families teaching children the value of caring for what they have, and volunteers bringing tools, patience, and time.
“Repair is possible,” Read said, convinced that behind every object brought back to life there is more than a fixed piece — there is a story that continues.
