Residents with a broken lamp, a torn jacket or a bike that won't shift can get it fixed for free on Sunday, when the Westside Repair Cafe holds its next pop-up event at the Santa Monica Elks Lodge.
The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15, at Elks Lodge No. 906, 1040 Pico Blvd. The lodge is within a block of Big Blue Bus stops for Lines 3 and 7.
Volunteers from Our Time Bank organize the cafe, along with other volunteers from the community. It is part of a worldwide repair cafe movement that aims to teach people to fix everyday items instead of throwing them away.
Visitors start at a check-in desk, where a volunteer fills out a repair ticket for each item. A runner takes the ticket to the right repair station. When a visitor's name is called, they describe the problem to a volunteer repairer, who tries to find the cause, talks through options and attempts the fix. At checkout, volunteers record whether the repair worked. Anyone whose item was fixed gets to ring the "Repair Bell."
All repairs are free. Visitors who need a specific replacement part can bring it with them, or a volunteer can help them find where to buy one. Organizers accept donations to cover event and material costs.
There are limits on what volunteers can take on. According to the group's website, they can't repair items too large to carry in, such as refrigerators. They also can't take on repairs that need a long diagnosis, like broken sewing machines or backpack zippers, or work that requires skills the volunteers don't have.
Wait times depend on how busy each repair station is, and organizers say arriving early is the best way to keep the wait short. While visitors wait, they can use free extras that include a giveaway table, a crafting station, a plant swap, snacks, hair trims, guitar lessons and wellness services.
The group usually holds a full repair cafe every three months. Its next event is a sewing workshop from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 5, at the ReDiscover Center in Venice, 12958 W. Washington Blvd. Participants can bring one fabric item and learn to hem or patch it themselves.
Repair cafes are also planned for February 2027 in Santa Monica, at a location not yet announced, and for May 1, 2027, at the Culver City Envirofest at Veterans Memorial Park.
Organizers are looking for volunteers with repair skills, such as fixing small appliances, electrical items, bikes and clothing, or sharpening knives. They also need help with check-in and outreach. More information is at westsiderepaircafe.org or by emailing westsiderepaircafe@gmail.com.