Friends of the Hennepin County Library helps promote the many book sales run by local Friends chapters in the library system.

Books sold at these venues are a combination of gently-used books from the library collection and books donated by library patrons. With the help of hundreds of volunteers across the system, book sales raise financial support for the library and help distribute thousands of affordable books back into the community.

The general book donation policy for Hennepin County Library can be found here.

About the Event

Bargain hunters and book lovers take note: Friends of Washburn Library will hold a used book sale on May 8, 9 & 11, 2026. On Monday, May 11, all remaining books are free. Proceeds benefit Hennepin County Library. Questions? Email washburn@supporthclib.org.

Book Donations

Donations are accepted during library open hours. For the full library donation policy, see here.

When

Fri, May 8, 2026, 10am – 4pm
Sat, May 9, 2026, 10am – 4pm
Mon, May 11, 2026, 9am – 3pm

Member Presale

Thu, May 7, 2026, 5 – 7pm

Available to all Friends of HCL members regardless of library affiliation.

Bag Sale

Sat, May 9, 2026, 2 – 4pm
** Bag sales offer reduced pricing on a bag full of books at the end of a sale.

Click here for all upcoming book sales

Friends of the Hennepin County Library helps promote the many book sales run by local Friends chapters in the library system.

Books sold at these venues are a combination of gently-used books from the library collection and books donated by library patrons. With the help of hundreds of volunteers across the system, book sales raise financial support for the library and help distribute thousands of affordable books back into the community.

The general book donation policy for Hennepin County Library can be found here.

About the Event

Bargain hunters and book lovers take note: Friends of Nokomis Library will hold a used book sale on May 9, 2026. Proceeds benefit Hennepin County Library. Questions? Email nokomis@supporthclib.org.

Book Donations

For inclusion in this sale, donations are accepted on Friday, May 8 between 10:00am and 3:00pm. We do not accept damaged books, textbooks, encyclopedia sets, magazines, audiotapes, or cassettes. For the full library donation policy, see here.

When

Sat, May 9, 2026, 9:30am – 3pm

Bag Sale

Sat, May 9, 2026, 2 – 3pm
** Bag sales offer reduced pricing on a bag full of books at the end of a sale.

Click here for all upcoming book sales

Friends of the Hennepin County Library helps promote the many book sales run by local Friends chapters in the library system.

Books sold at these venues are a combination of gently-used books from the library collection and books donated by library patrons. With the help of hundreds of volunteers across the system, book sales raise financial support for the library and help distribute thousands of affordable books back into the community.

The general book donation policy for Hennepin County Library can be found here.

About the Event

Bargain hunters and book lovers take note: Friends of Penn Lake Library will hold a used book sale on May 9-10, 2026. Proceeds benefit Hennepin County Library. Questions? Email pennlake@supporthclib.org.

Book Donations

For inclusion in this sale, donations are accepted during library open hours from Saturday, May 2 to Thursday, May 7. Please note we CANNOT ACCEPT: water damaged books, mildewed or moldy books, encyclopedias, textbooks over 10 years old, travel or computer books over 3 years old, Reader’s Digest condensed books, or VHS tapes.

For the full library donation policy, see here.

When

Sat, May 9, 2026, 9am – 4pm

Sun, May 10, 2026, 12 – 2pm

Member Presale

Fri, May 8, 2026, 2:30 – 4:30pm

Available to all Friends of HCL members regardless of library affiliation.

Bag Sale

Sun, May 10, 2026, 12 – 2pm
** Bag sales offer reduced pricing on a bag full of books at the end of a sale.

Click here for all upcoming book sales

Lost a garden tool last year or have extras cluttering your garage? Come to the Ramsey County Garden Tool Swap at the Environmental Center in Roseville. All are welcome. No donation required. Wednesdays in May, and Saturdays May 9 and 16.

Donations must be clean and dry (no dirt, vegetation or roots).

Visit RamseyRecycles.com/Swaps for details.

Get a free behind-the-scenes look at 75 unique and exciting venues at Doors Open Minneapolis 2026 - part of the City Stories Festival.

Welcome to Doors Open Minneapolis!

Step inside the buildings that tell our city’s story—completely free.

Doors Open Minneapolis, produced by Rethos, is a citywide open house featuring 75+ venues across Minneapolis, offering rare behind-the-scenes access to the places that shape our community.

From theaters to business hubs, sacred spaces to private clubs, sports venues to engineering marvels, and historic landmarks to buildings not yet open to the public—this is your chance to explore the city in a whole new way.

Meet the people who bring these spaces to life and hear the stories that make them meaningful. Whether you’re planning a full day of exploration or just stopping by a few sites, Doors Open Minneapolis is designed to be welcoming, accessible, and fun for all ages.

Part of City Stories

Doors Open Minneapolis is part of City Stories (May 2–10, 2026)—a weeklong festival celebrating architecture, history, and place across the Twin Cities.

Looking for tours, talks, and special events during Doors Open weekend and throughout the week?

Explore and get your tickets at the City Stories website

Plan Your Visit

View the full list of participating venues and start planning your weekend → Doors Open Minneapolis website

What to Expect

Free access to 75+ buildings across Minneapolis

A mix of historic landmarks, new spaces, and hidden gems

Opportunities to meet building staff, designers, and community members

A flexible, self-guided experience—visit as many or as few sites as you like

A fun and engaging event for all ages

If puzzles and games are your thing, then join Dakota Valley Recycling for a swap! Find us at the following locations with all our gently used puzzles, ready to swap for FREE!

Accepted items:

• Puzzles
• Board games (all ages)
• Card games
• Video game discs/cartridges
• Trading cards

Be sure that your puzzles & board games:

• Include all pieces
• Are not stained
• Are in the original box 

Nothing to swap? Get a free ticket at the door. All ages. Puzzle and board game donations in great condition are accepted any time on the Wescott Library donation cart inside the library.

Join Eastside Food Co-op for a fun and sustainable spring plant & garden swap!

Whether you're looking to share your plant propagations, pick up new seeds, or donate extra garden tools, this event is the perfect way to get involved, meet fellow plant lovers, and give your unused gear a second life.

There is no need to bring items to take items. All are welcome!

How It Works:

1. Bring your plants, tools, etc.
2. Set out your items on the tables, where they will be displayed alongside items from other participants.
3. Take what you need; everything on the tables is free to take, no direct exchanges required! Feel free to browse and pick up anything that catches your eye.

What to Bring:

• Plants: Propagations, potted plants, or anything you're ready to share.
• Seeds: Bring your unneeded seeds to share with others.
• Garden Gear: Tools, pots, gloves, etc. Items must be in good, usable condition. Broken items will not be accepted.

Why Participate?

This is your chance to declutter, swap with other gardeners, and support eco-friendly practices. Plus, any leftover tools will be donated to the MN Tool Library, helping others get started with gardening.

Get help with your broken stuff and learn valuable repair skills at free Fix-It Clinics.

Fix-It Clinics offer free, guided assistance from volunteers with repair skills to disassemble, troubleshoot, and (hopefully) fix small household appliances, clothing, electronics, mobile devices and more. Fix-It Clinics teach valuable troubleshooting and basic repair skills, build community connections and reduce the number of repairable items that are thrown in the trash.

Clinics are held on the second weekend of every month from noon to 4 p.m., with the last items accepted at 3:30 p.m. Events are first come, first served. No pre-registration required.

What to bring

You must be able to carry items in — no oversized items. Feel free to bring any tools and supplies you think might help with the job; however, our volunteers have plenty of tools, so it’s not mandatory. Be prepared to wield a screwdriver, open stuff up and, hopefully, fix it!

The following are examples of things that have been repaired at other fix-it events:

• Antique radio
• Blender
• Camping lantern
• Clothing and other soft goods to mend or alter
• Dremel tool
• DVD player
• Electric hot water kettle
• Fan
• Flashlight
• Hair dryer
• Lamp
• Paper shredder
• Remote control
• Sewing machine
• Steam mop
• Stereo
• Telephone headset
• Toaster oven
• Toaster
• Toys

Volunteers needed

If you can troubleshoot repairs for broken items, consider volunteering at a Fix-It Clinic. Volunteer fixers who have skills in soldering, electronics repair, electrical repair, sewing, wood working and general tinkering are essential to making the clinics successful.

Please email nancy.lo@hennepin.us or call 612-348-9195 for more details.

Swap clean, gently used items for babies 2 years and younger. All are welcome at the swap, and all items are given and taken freely. Note: Items at the swap are provided "as is" with no guarantee of the condition or working order.
Hosted by the City of Bloomington.

How to shop

• All items are free.
• You do not have to donate items to shop the swap.

How to donate

• Donate in advance: Donations can be brought to the Black Box theater in advance at the following times:
• • Thursday, April 9: 11 am to 5 pm
  • Friday, April 10: 11 am to 5 pm.
• Donations are also accepted during the swap on Saturday from 10 am to 12 pm.
• Please only bring accepted items from the list below.

• Wraps and carriers: strollers, swaddles, slings (no car seats)
• Toys: sensory and learning toys, books, bath toys, attachments for strollers and carriers
• Engagement: activity centers, play yards, walkers, swings, bouncers
• Miscellaneous items: highchairs, booster chairs, diaper bags, other small and gently used items

Lost a garden tool last year or have extras cluttering your garage? Come to the Ramsey County Garden Tool Swap at the Environmental Center in Roseville. All are welcome. No donation required. Wednesdays in May, and Saturdays May 9 and 16.

Donations must be clean and dry (no dirt, vegetation or roots).

Visit RamseyRecycles.com/Swaps for details.

Friends of the Hennepin County Library helps promote the many book sales run by local Friends chapters in the library system.

Books sold at these venues are a combination of gently-used books from the library collection and books donated by library patrons. With the help of hundreds of volunteers across the system, book sales raise financial support for the library and help distribute thousands of affordable books back into the community.

The general book donation policy for Hennepin County Library can be found here.

About the Event

Bargain hunters and book lovers take note: Friends of Plymouth Library will hold a used book sale on May 16, 2026. Proceeds benefit Hennepin County Library. Questions? Email plymouth@supporthclib.org.

Book Donations

Donations of gently used adult and children’s books, DVDs, CDs, jigsaw puzzles, and games are accepted the first Saturday of each month from 10:30 AM to noon in the meeting room at the Plymouth Library. Donations are also accepted Friday, May 15, from 9 AM to 3 PM.

Unfortunately, we cannot accept textbooks, encyclopedias, video tapes, or audio tapes.

For the full library donation policy, see here.

When

Sat, May 16, 2026, 10am – 3pm

Member Presale

Sat, May 16, 2026, 9 – 10am

Available to all Friends of HCL members regardless of library affiliation.

Bag Sale

Sat, May 16, 2026, 2 – 3pm
** Bag sales offer reduced pricing on a bag full of books at the end of a sale.

Click here for all upcoming book sales

Bring gently used items such as shovels, rakes, hoses, birdfeeders, ceramic pots, and much more to trade with neighbors and refresh your garden's look. Items must be in good, usable condition. Broken items and plastic planter pots will not be accepted.

Swaps are open to everyone. No purchases are necessary. Bring what you can, and take what you'd like!

Hosted by Dakota Valley Recycling. Learn more here.

Lost a garden tool last year or have extras cluttering your garage? Come to the Ramsey County Garden Tool Swap at the Environmental Center in Roseville. All are welcome. No donation required. Wednesdays in May, and Saturdays May 9 and 16.

Donations must be clean and dry (no dirt, vegetation or roots).

Visit RamseyRecycles.com/Swaps for details.

Get items fixed or mended for free and learn useful repair skills at an upcoming Fix-It Clinic. Skilled volunteers help you troubleshoot and hopefully fix your broken items. Be prepared to help tinker with, stitch, unscrew or pry open your items. Clinics build community and reduce the amount of stuff thrown in the trash.

Clinics are first come, first served. Items are accepted until 30 minutes before the end of the event. No pre-registration required.

Dakota County wants to ensure all are able to take part. If you need any accommodations to support accessibility, please email access​@co.dakota.mn.us at least 48 hours in advance. For transportation options, contact the GoDakota program at godakota@co.dakota.mn.us or 651-554-6956.

Things to remember

• Learn from your fixer — ask questions and be an active participant in the repair process.
• We can't guarantee an item will be fixed, but we'll give it our best shot.
• You're responsible for properly disposing of non-fixable items, but we'll help connect you to the right disposal information.
• Sewers can make minor repairs, mending, hemming pants and skirts and zipper troubleshooting. No major alterations will be possible. If necessary, our sewers will try to provide recommendations for alternative repair services.

What to​​ bring

Bring up to three items that need fixing or mending. No oversized items are allowed. We have tools and expertise on-hand to help troubleshoot and teach you how to repair your items. Feel free to bring tools or parts you think might help with the job. ​

The following are examples of things that have been repaired at Fix-It Clinics:

• Radios and stereos
• Vacuums - must be empty
• Blenders
• Clothing to mend - must be clean
• DVD players
• Coffee makers
• Fans
• Lamps
• Sewing machines
• Toasters and toaster ovens
• Toys​

Voluntee​r at a Fix-It Clinic

Bring your problem-solving skills as a fixer or mender to a Fix-It Clinic. Volunteer fixers who have skills in soldering, electronics repair, electrical repair, sewing, wood working and general tinkering are essential to making the clinics successful.

Sign-up online to volunteer at a Fix-It Clinic.

Just because it’s broken doesn’t mean it belongs in the trash can! Whether it’s cracked, torn, stained, missing a piece, or just not working properly, broken things can be made good as new with the right skills and tools. WLSSD is partnering with the Duluth Folk School and Duluth Makerspace to host Fix-It Clinics where you can learn how to fix your stuff!

REGISTRATION is required. Please fill out the registration form or call 218-722-3336. Learn more at Fix-it Clinics - Resource Renew. Walk-ins welcome but not guaranteed a time slot.

Fix-It Clinics are events where volunteers with repair skills give free, guided assistance to help you troubleshoot and fix your broken household items. Volunteers specialize in a variety of repair skills, including electronics and small appliances, woodworking and furniture, watches and jewelry, clothing and upholstery, sports and outdoor gear, ceramics, artwork, and more!

Fix-It Clinics run from 3:30 – 6:00 p.m. on the following Saturdays in 2026:

January 10, Duluth Folk School
March 14, Duluth Folk School
May 16, Duluth MakerSpace (small engines welcome!)
July 11, Duluth Folk School
September 19, Duluth MakerSpace (small engines welcome!)
November 14, Duluth Folk School

Presented in collaboration with Duluth Folk School, Duluth MakerSpace, and Northern Bedrock Historic Preservation Corps.

Bring in your small household items, tools, and trinkets that need some TLC.
A lamp that won't light?  
Headphones with extra wobbly earpieces? 
A stuffy missing some stuffing? 
A chair with a torn seat or loose leg? 
Deflated Ball? 

MTL has the tools and expertise on-hand to help troubleshoot and teach you how to repair your items!

Our monthly Community Fix-Ins are always open to the public and participation is FREE. This month's focus is on garden tools

REGISTER HERE

What to Expect

As a society, we throw away tons of stuff. Literally. Reuse and Repair are simple steps that everyone can take to reduce waste, but often we lack the right tools or knowledge to make those repairs on our own. A collaborative, community FIX-IN is our solution!

We've gathered highly skilled volunteers willing to share their time and talents. Repair parts (as available) and support are provided free of charge, though goodwill donations are always welcome.

This is a free, drop-in style event - though reservations are appreciated, so we have an idea how many fixers to have on hand. Come anytime in the window, and feel free to bring multiple items, though depending on capacity we may not be able to get to everything.

Note: Please specify what item(s) you plan to bring when checking out so that our fixers can best prepare for you!

Why Repair?

As a society, we throw away tons of stuff. Literally. Current estimates put the amount of trash generated by Americans each year at 254 million tons! Reuse and Repair are simple steps that everyone can take to reduce waste; but often we lack the right tools or knowledge to make repairs on our own. A collaborative, Community FIX-IN is our solution! 

Hosted by Recovery Bike Shop, this free DIY Bike Repair Night takes place on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month from 7–9 PM. The open workshop welcomes riders of all experience levels to learn, fix, and build with guidance from knowledgeable mechanics.

Participants have access to shared tools and workspace while developing hands-on skills—from fixing a flat tire to assembling an entire bike. No prior experience is necessary—just a willingness to learn.

DIY Repair Night is designed to empower cyclists by making bike maintenance approachable and accessible. It also serves as a gathering space for the cycling community to connect, share stories, discuss local routes, and swap tips for riding in Minnesota weather.

Whether stopping in with a quick question or taking on a larger project, all are welcome. Volunteers are encouraged to get involved, and everything is completely free.

Recovery Bike Shop | 2504 Central Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN, 55418 | 612-876-5356

Lost a garden tool last year or have extras cluttering your garage? Come to the Ramsey County Garden Tool Swap at the Environmental Center in Roseville. All are welcome. No donation required. Wednesdays in May, and Saturdays May 9 and 16.

Donations must be clean and dry (no dirt, vegetation or roots).

Visit RamseyRecycles.com/Swaps for details.

Lost a garden tool last year or have extras cluttering your garage? Come to the Ramsey County Garden Tool Swap at the Environmental Center in Roseville. All are welcome. No donation required. Wednesdays in May, and Saturdays May 9 and 16.

Donations must be clean and dry (no dirt, vegetation or roots).

Visit RamseyRecycles.com/Swaps for details.

We’re heading to St. Cloud for the upcoming Reuse Minnesota meeting!

We will have tours at SCRAPS/St. Cloud City Hall and ConnectAbility, with the member meeting at Stearns History Museum. 

Schedule

9:00–10:15am | Tour: SCRAPS and St. Cloud City Hall

10:45am–12:15pm | Member meeting: Stearns History Museum

10:45–10:50am | Welcome

10:50–11:20am | Reuse Minnesota updates

11:20–11:45am | Member spotlights

• Willmar CommUNITY Closet, LetitiaThomas-Skalicky
• Fledj (local giving platform), Courtney Talmadge

11:45am–12:15pm | Member updates

12:15–12:45pm | Stearns History Museum visit

12:45–2:15pm | Lunch break

2:15–3:30pm | Tour: ConnectAbility

Addresses

SCRAPS/St. Cloud City Hall: 1201 7th Street South, St. Cloud, MN 56301
Stearns History Museum: 235 33rd Avenue South, St. Cloud, MN 56301
ConnectAbility: 2901 3rd St S, Waite Park, MN 56387

The Zoom link for the member meeting will be included in your registration confirmation email.

Carpooling

Interested in traveling with others? Click here to add or join a carpool!

Do you have something that needs repairing or mending? Bring it to our Fix-It Clinic! Whether it's clothing, electronics, small appliances, or toys, our skilled volunteers will help you repair and mend your items for FREE! Our Fix-It Clinics focus on teaching you how to extend the life of your belongings while promoting sustainability and upcycling.

What to expect

• Learn valuable DIY repair and mending skills
• Fix your items with expert guidance
• Save money and reduce waste

Event details

• No pre-registration required
• First-come, first-served
• Limit 2 items per household
• Items should be carry-in size for hands-on repair
• Items accepted until 30 minutes before the event ends
• The event will be held at Handyman's Hardware
• **Spanish and Somali interpreters will be available**

Non-accepted items

• Large items that cannot be carried by one person
• Items with gasoline engines
• Items needing a full zipper replacement (small zipper repairs can be done, but full replacements will not be available due to time constraints)

Stearns History Museum is partnering with Reuse Minnesota to host this event, thanks to funding from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's Statewide Waste Reduction and Reuse grant. We're excited to offer this opportunity to help repair and restore your items!

Do you have something that needs repairing or mending? Bring it to our Fix-It Clinic! Whether it's clothing, electronics, small appliances, or toys, our skilled volunteers will help you repair and mend your items for FREE! Our Fix-It Clinics focus on teaching you how to extend the life of your belongings while promoting sustainability and upcycling.

Note: This clinic was originally scheduled for May 9, 2026.

What to expect

• Learn valuable DIY repair and mending skills
• Fix your items with expert guidance
• Save money and reduce waste

Event details

• No pre-registration required
• First-come, first-served
• Limit 2 items per household
• Items should be carry-in size for hands-on repair
• Items accepted until 30 minutes before the event ends

Non-accepted items

• Large items that cannot be carried by one person.
• Items with gasoline engines
• Items needing a full zipper replacement (small zipper repairs can be done, but full replacements will not be available due to time constraints)

Pope/Douglas Solid Waste Management is partnering with Reuse Minnesota to host this clinic, thanks to funding from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's Statewide Waste Reduction and Reuse grant. We're excited to offer this opportunity to help repair and restore your items!

Carver County Environmental Services and local non-profit A Better Society are teaming up to bring more Fix-it Clinics to Carver County.

At these free events, volunteers help attendees fix items that may otherwise end up being disposed of. These items include vacuums, clothing, small engines, bicycles, and a variety of other small household items.

At this event residents have the opportunity to sit down with a volunteer fixer to talk about their item and work together toward a repair. If an item cannot not be fixed, volunteers will try their best to diagnose the problem and provide the resident with part numbers, other repair options or recycling and disposal alternatives.

If you have questions or would like assistance with sign up send us a message or contact Environmental Services at (952) 361-1800 with any questions.

For more information and to register, please visit this link. Registration is required. Walk-ins welcome with no guarantee for service. Sign-up to guarantee a time slot.

Volunteer Opportunities

To sign up as a volunteer fixer, click here!

Hosted by Recovery Bike Shop, this free DIY Bike Repair Night takes place on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month from 7–9 PM. The open workshop welcomes riders of all experience levels to learn, fix, and build with guidance from knowledgeable mechanics.

Participants have access to shared tools and workspace while developing hands-on skills—from fixing a flat tire to assembling an entire bike. No prior experience is necessary—just a willingness to learn.

DIY Repair Night is designed to empower cyclists by making bike maintenance approachable and accessible. It also serves as a gathering space for the cycling community to connect, share stories, discuss local routes, and swap tips for riding in Minnesota weather.

Whether stopping in with a quick question or taking on a larger project, all are welcome. Volunteers are encouraged to get involved, and everything is completely free.

Recovery Bike Shop | 2504 Central Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN, 55418 | 612-876-5356

Get help with your broken stuff and learn valuable repair skills at free Fix-It Clinics.

Fix-It Clinics offer free, guided assistance from volunteers with repair skills to disassemble, troubleshoot, and (hopefully) fix small household appliances, clothing, electronics, mobile devices and more. Fix-It Clinics teach valuable troubleshooting and basic repair skills, build community connections and reduce the number of repairable items that are thrown in the trash.

Clinics are held on the second weekend of every month from noon to 4 p.m., with the last items accepted at 3:30 p.m. Events are first come, first served. No pre-registration required.

What to bring

You must be able to carry items in — no oversized items. Feel free to bring any tools and supplies you think might help with the job; however, our volunteers have plenty of tools, so it’s not mandatory. Be prepared to wield a screwdriver, open stuff up and, hopefully, fix it!

The following are examples of things that have been repaired at other fix-it events:

• Antique radio
• Blender
• Camping lantern
• Clothing and other soft goods to mend or alter
• Dremel tool
• DVD player
• Electric hot water kettle
• Fan
• Flashlight
• Hair dryer
• Lamp
• Paper shredder
• Remote control
• Sewing machine
• Steam mop
• Stereo
• Telephone headset
• Toaster oven
• Toaster
• Toys

Volunteers needed

If you can troubleshoot repairs for broken items, consider volunteering at a Fix-It Clinic. Volunteer fixers who have skills in soldering, electronics repair, electrical repair, sewing, wood working and general tinkering are essential to making the clinics successful.

Please email nancy.lo@hennepin.us or call 612-348-9195 for more details.

Do you have something that needs repairing or mending? Bring it to our Fix-It Clinic! Whether it's clothing, electronics, small appliances, or toys, our skilled volunteers will help you repair and mend your items for FREE! Our Fix-It Clinics focus on teaching you how to extend the life of your belongings while promoting sustainability and upcycling.

What to expect

• Learn valuable DIY repair and mending skills
• Fix your items with expert guidance
• Save money and reduce waste

Event details

• No pre-registration required
• First-come, first-served
• Limit 2 items per household
• Items should be carry-in size for hands-on repair
• Items accepted until 30 minutes before the event ends
• The event will be held at the Government Services Building in Mantorville. 

Non-accepted items

• Large items that cannot be carried by one person
• Items with gasoline engines
• Items needing a full zipper replacement (small zipper repairs can be done, but full replacements will not be available due to time constraints)

Dodge County is partnering with Reuse Minnesota to host this Fix-It Clinic, thanks to funding from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's Statewide Waste Reduction and Reuse grant. We're excited to offer this opportunity to help repair and restore your items!

Get items fixed or mended for free and learn useful repair skills at an upcoming Fix-It Clinic. Skilled volunteers help you troubleshoot and hopefully fix your broken items. Be prepared to help tinker with, stitch, unscrew or pry open your items. Clinics build community and reduce the amount of stuff thrown in the trash.

Clinics are first come, first served. Items are accepted until 30 minutes before the end of the event. No pre-registration required.

Dakota County wants to ensure all are able to take part. If you need any accommodations to support accessibility, please email access​@co.dakota.mn.us at least 48 hours in advance. For transportation options, contact the GoDakota program at godakota@co.dakota.mn.us or 651-554-6956.

Things to remember

• Learn from your fixer — ask questions and be an active participant in the repair process.
• We can't guarantee an item will be fixed, but we'll give it our best shot.
• You're responsible for properly disposing of non-fixable items, but we'll help connect you to the right disposal information.
• Sewers can make minor repairs, mending, hemming pants and skirts and zipper troubleshooting. No major alterations will be possible. If necessary, our sewers will try to provide recommendations for alternative repair services.

What to​​ bring

Bring up to three items that need fixing or mending. No oversized items are allowed. We have tools and expertise on-hand to help troubleshoot and teach you how to repair your items. Feel free to bring tools or parts you think might help with the job. ​

The following are examples of things that have been repaired at Fix-It Clinics:

• Radios and stereos
• Vacuums - must be empty
• Blenders
• Clothing to mend - must be clean
• DVD players
• Coffee makers
• Fans
• Lamps
• Sewing machines
• Toasters and toaster ovens
• Toys​

Voluntee​r at a Fix-It Clinic

Bring your problem-solving skills as a fixer or mender to a Fix-It Clinic. Volunteer fixers who have skills in soldering, electronics repair, electrical repair, sewing, wood working and general tinkering are essential to making the clinics successful.

Sign-up online to volunteer at a Fix-It Clinic.