Corning Repair Café to Bring Free Community Repair, Skill-Sharing, and Family Activities to Local Residents
Community partners join forces to promote waste reduction, hands-on learning, and connection in Corning, New York.
Corning, NY — A coalition of local organizations is hosting a community-wide Repair Café, inviting residents to bring their broken household items to repair alongside skilled volunteers, who will help troubleshoot through the repair process. The event will take place at Emmanuel Lutheran Church at 149 W William St. in Corning, NY, on April 25 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., offering a welcoming, hands-on environment where community members learn by doing – extending the life of their belongings while gaining new skills. The event will also include a special children’s activity: the Teddy Bear Hospital, where kids can bring stuffed animals for mending and rejuvenation.
The Repair Café is a collaborative effort led by the Southeast Steuben County Library, Makerspace at Corning Community College, Southern Tier Reduces, Steuben County Habitat for Humanity ReStore and the Steuben County Habitat for Humanity Tool Library. Volunteers will help guests repair a wide range of items, including small electronics, clothing and textiles, toys, small furniture, bikes, and more, while teaching them how repairs are done step-by-step.
“Repair Cafés are about building community through action and reducing waste,” said Emilee Lindner of Southern Tier Reduces. “When neighbors come together to save items from the landfill, share skills, share stories, and help one another, we’re not just repairing objects — we’re repairing our throwaway culture.”
The Repair Café movement, which began in the Netherlands in 2009, has become a global effort to reduce waste and build stronger communities through shared learning. Corning’s event encourages residents of all ages to engage directly with hands-on repair in a supportive, collaborative space.
Event highlights
Free repair help for everyday items
Coached, hands-on learning with volunteer repairers
Teddy Bear Hospital for children’s stuffed animals
Sustainability and waste-reduction resources
Community-building atmosphere for all ages
What to bring
Participants are encouraged to bring items such as:
Clothing and textiles
Small appliances and electronics
Toys and stuffed animals
Wooden items
Small furniture
Knives and tools to sharpen
Bicycles in need of minor repair or adjustment
Cost
The event is free and open to all, with optional donations supporting future community repair efforts.
Volunteer to help
The Repair Cafe is looking for volunteers to help with the event. We need talented repair folks as well as people interested in assisting with the event.
Click here to Sign-up or email us at elmiracorningrepaircafe@gmail.com to learn more.
About the partner organizations
Southeast Steuben County Library supports community learning, creativity, and resource-sharing.
Makerspace at Corning Community College provides tools and hands-on opportunities for innovation, building, and design.
Southern Tier Reduces is a regional initiative promoting waste reduction and sustainable living.
Steuben County Habitat for Humanity ReStore fundraises through its second-hand store for the construction and repair of homes in Steuben County
Steuben County Habitat for Humanity Tool Library provides residents of Steuben, Chemung, and Schuyler Counties access to quality tools and equipment for a low annual membership fee.
For more information, to volunteer, or to inquire about repair needs, please contact:
elmiracorningrepaircafe@gmail.com