Residents looking to breathe new life into broken household goods can head to the White Center Fieldhouse—affectionately known as the "Log Cabin"—for a free community repair event on Saturday, March 14th.
Hosted by the King County Solid Waste Division, the event will run for three hours, from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM, at Steve Cox Memorial Park. The program pairs residents with skilled volunteer "fixers" and sewers who donate their time to mend and repair a wide variety of personal and household items.
What Can Be Fixed?
The "fixers" are prepared to tackle various small items, including:
- Small appliances and electronics (lamps, vacuums, and electric power tools).
- Personal items like jewelry, clothing, and other textiles.
- Household goods such as toys and small furniture, including chairs and drawers.
Organizers note that while the volunteers are highly skilled, they may decline to work on certain items based on the type of repair needed or the specific fixers available. Participants are also reminded that all items, particularly clothing, fans, and vacuums, must be reasonably clean before being brought in.
Event Guidelines and Limitations
To serve as many community members as possible, the event operates on a first-come, first-served basis for each person’s first item. If time permits after everyone’s primary item has been addressed, volunteers will attempt to repair second items.
There are several restrictions on what can be brought to the Fieldhouse. Volunteers will not work on:
- Equipment that uses gasoline.
- Cell phones, tablet computers, or microwaves.
- Knife or tool sharpening.
- Lengthy reconstructive repairs or major clothing alterations.
More Information
For those who cannot attend or have items that require professional services, King County maintains a list of businesses offering paid repairs in 20 different categories at www.KingCounty.gov/repair-businesses.
Residents with specific questions regarding their items can contact event coordinator Tom Watson at 206-477-4481 or via email at tom.watson@kingcounty.gov. Additional details can also be found on the King County Solid Waste Division’s website
