Repair Café El Barrio is a free, community-based, volunteer-run event where people come together to repair everyday items, share skills, and learn from one another.

We meet monthly, usually on Sundays from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm, at El Barrio Artspace (East Harlem). Each event brings together volunteers, neighbors, and collaborators — artists, educators, and community initiatives — in a shared space of learning and care.

We also serve food at our events as part of creating a welcoming, nourishing environment.

No. Repair Café El Barrio is not a professional or commercial repair service. Repairs are done collaboratively, for educational and community purposes.

No. Repairs are free.
Donations are welcome but never required, and they help us tremendously to continue operating Repair Café El Barrio — from materials and food to insurance and community programming.

If you’d like to support the project, please visit our Donations section.

We focus on small, portable, low-risk items, such as: Clothing and textiles - Lamps and small household electronics - Toys and household objects - Small furniture - Bicycles (basic repairs) - Simple electronics and tech advice

Yes. For safety and liability reasons, there are items we do not repair, following Repair Café International / Foundation guidelines (for example: large appliances, gas-powered devices, medical or safety-critical equipment, and fixed household systems).

In some cases, we can assess an item or offer guidance, even if we cannot repair it. Check the full list here.

We aim for up to about 90 minutes per item as a flexible guideline, depending on complexity and volunteer availability.

No. Repair Café El Barrio is not a drop-off service. Repairs are done together, with the item’s owner present.

At this time, we do not accept donations of objects. We don’t have storage space, and Repair Café El Barrio is not a donation center or resale space. Please bring only the item you would like to repair and take it with you at the end of the event.

No. All repairs take place on site during scheduled events. We do not do repairs in people’s homes.

No. Repairs are carried out at the owner’s risk, and we cannot guarantee results or long-term performance.

For everyone’s safety and privacy, we discourage sharing personal contact information. All repair-related activity should stay within the event.

Yes. Alongside repair events, we are developing educational programs and classes focused on repair, circular practices, and everyday skills. A dedicated page with class information is coming soon.

Not yet. We are currently developing presentations, workshops, and custom programs for schools, companies, nonprofits, and cultural institutions, with a planned launch later in 2026. A dedicated page with program formats, options, and fees will be available once this work is ready.

We’re happy to share our experience and welcome people who want to visit an event, observe how we work, and learn from our approach in practice.

Repair Café El Barrio is not a formal training center, and we don’t offer step-by-step toolkits or ready-made solutions. Our work is place-based and relational, shaped by El Barrio and the community around it.

For official guidance on starting a Repair Café, we encourage people to connect directly with Repair Café International / Foundation, who provide resources and global coordination.

If you’re interested in learning through participation, you’re also welcome to volunteer with us and contribute your skills over time.

You can attend an event, volunteer, participate in classes or programs, collaborate, or subscribe to our newsletter.