MIDDLEBURY — The Addison County Solid Waste Management District (ACSWMD) is offering help to residents with broken lamp or bike or sweater with holes. 
Instead of throwing these things away, ACSWMD is inviting local resident to bring their broken stuff to its upcoming Repair Fair on Thursday, Nov. 14 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Hannaford Career Center. 
The Repair Fair is a free event where skilled community members volunteer to help fix participants’ broken or damaged items. Fixers will do their best to perform repairs on the spot or point attendees in the right direction if their items can’t be readily fixed at the event. 
The goal of the event is to keep usable, fixable things out of the landfill while sharing skills, enthusiasm, and community connections to build a culture of repair. 
The most popular items at the past two Repair Fairs have been appliances, clothing, bikes, lamps, furniture and jewelry. Fixers have worked on dozens of other things based on their unique skill sets. 
The events held in February 2019 and June 2018 successfully repaired between 60 and 75 percent of participants’ items. Ollie Cultrara, ACSWMD’s AmeriCorps member, said he is excited to organize the event again: “The energy in the room is contagious. Participants are elated to have their cherished possessions saved from the landfill, and the volunteers find it gratifying to restore items that often have significant sentimental value as well as utility.” 
In addition to getting things fixed, participants can enjoy free refreshments, connect with other community members, and enter a free raffle. Activities for kids are also provided. 
This event is being held in partnership with the Makery at the Hannaford Career Center. The Makery is a weekly maker space open from 5 to 9 p.m. on Thursdays. Repair Fair attendees are encouraged to check out the Makery’s three labs and mentors that help participants with sewing, 3D printing, and woodworking. 
More information about the event is available at www. AddisonCountyRecycles.org or from Ollie Cultrara at ollie@ acswmd.org or (802) 388-2333.