From clocks to clothes, bikes, stuffed animals, mini fridges and remote-controlled helicopters, locals and their broken items filled the Ramona Library’s Community Room on Saturday.
Hoping to keep their items out of the landfill, refrain from purchasing replacements and make their own repairs in the future, the attendees were part of the free San Diego Fixit Clinic.
Being able to reuse a repaired item was fulfilling in itself, said several attendees.
Stephen Mergener, vice president of Zero Waste San Diego and lead organizer of the San Diego Fixit Clinics stopped working long enough to catch up with his friends, fellow fixers Steve Sands and Mike Gleason. (Regina Elling)
The unexpected bonus they received was a sense of connection as they bonded with others over the stories and histories of their cherished items.
“We’re doing something good for people and doing a good thing for the community,” said Stephen Mergener, vice president of Zero Waste San Diego and lead organizer of the San Diego Fixit Clinics.
The clinics pair fixers — volunteer experts with practical repair skills — with those who want to have their belongings functional and working.
Dave Patterson and his daughter, Megan Otto, teamed up as fixers for some electronics repairs, including on a CD player which refused to spin that was brought in by Rose Malanche. All three are Ramona residents. Patterson and Malanche have known each other for years.
Ramona resident Dave Patterson, a volunteer fixer at the Fixit Clinic, worked on repairing a CD player for Rose Malanche, also of Ramona. She listens to music and news on the device, which she has owned for 30-plus years. (Regina Elling)
“I play a lot of CDs and want it fixed if possible,” Malanche said. “Otherwise I will find just a CD player, since the radio still works.”
Patterson has an electronic background and used to work on radar systems. Otto said he’s always been “a major fixer of all things.”
Otto, an engineer environmentalist, is on the board of Sustainable Ramona, which was an event co-sponsor with Zero Waste San Diego. Otto said she and her father wanted to be involved and help out the community.
As Patterson and Otto worked on the device, testing buttons and cleaning small parts, Malanche said she listens to music on it every day.
“Blues, classical, opera, boogie boogie, swing — it’s all so good, I love it all,” she said. She also listens to news from KPBS and NPR on the player.
A few minutes later, after adding oil to the drive shaft, Patterson was able to get the drive moving better, although there was still no sound.
“I’ve had it for 30-plus years,” Malanche said. “I think it was a gift. I wouldn’t have bought something like that for myself.”
Eventually Patterson determined a new drive circuit was needed, and he promised Malanche he would keep her updated on his search for a replacement.
Even though her device wasn’t repaired, Malanche was appreciative of the efforts.
“If he can’t find it, it’s OK. The radio is still good,” she said.
The Ramona Library’s Community Room was filled with people hoping to have their broken items repaired during the San Diego Fixit Clinic on Saturday. (Regina Elling)
Nearby in the textiles section, several women fixers were nearly hidden behind their sewing machines as they kept busy working on projects.
After mending a couple of stuffed animals, Roberta Price from Lakeside deconstructed some old clothes in order to use the denim for further patches.
“I believe in keeping things out of the landfill,” Price said. “And we need a ton of positivity, which the clinic provides.”
Cata England, who drove from Carmel Mountain Ranch to participate as a fixer, also repaired some pants.
“A man brought in his beloved camo pants; they needed two buttons fixed,” England said. “We talked the whole time. You really connect with people.”
Afterward, England chatted with Dilyn Driver of North Park while they sewed.
“I got into sewing because I decided to wear only sustainable clothing,” Driver said. “That means I either have to buy it at expensive prices, or learn how to fix it myself.”
Like the other women, they had been participating in Fixit clinics across the county for a year or more.
Jennifer Shaw of Ramona volunteered for her first Fixit Clinic after seeing a need for those able to sew and mend. Although she said the turnout was less than expected, she was impressed with the smooth workflow throughout the day. (Regina Elling)
In contrast, Jennifer Shaw of Ramona was participating in her first clinic. She volunteered after learning people able to do sewing and mending were needed.
“I work on some sort of handicraft, including sewing, crochet and knitting, every week,” she said.
Earlier in the day, while Andi Townsend of San Marcos was repairing a child’s rainbow-colored sleeping bag, Shaw kept the youngster’s mother busy by showing her some crochet stitches and having her practice them.
After that, Townsend hemmed a pair of jeans that belonged to Ramona resident Don Weeke. He had brought a CD player in for repair, and was encouraged to go back home and fetch the too-long jeans for hemming while he waited.
“I’ve had it for at least 20 years,” he said of the CD player. “The lid won’t close all the way.”
Although a piece was missing, one of the fixers showed him how to close the lid so he could still use the player.
He was also thrilled with his newly-hemmed pants, holding them up in the air for everyone to admire.
Don Weeke of Ramona enjoyed a laugh with fixer Andi Townsend of San Marcos. She shortened a pair of his jeans while he waited on repairs to a CD player. (Regina Elling)
“I like the idea I can help people by doing things I can do that they can’t,” Townsend said. “When I leave here, I feel like I’ve made a difference in some way. It’s fun and it’s fulfilling.”
England agreed.
“The community that we build here is not just amongst ourselves as fixers, but among all the people who come in and walk out with a fuller soul, feeling more connected to their community,” England said.