Olmsted County held its first-ever Fix-It Clinic on Saturday, May 3, in partnership with Reuse Minnesota. The clinic was held during Rochester’s annual EarthFest Expo, a one-day event celebrating sustainable innovation, community connection, and shared learning.

Local news station KAAL was onsite to cover the event and featured the fix-it clinics. Community members were invited to bring in broken or damaged items to be repaired for free by skilled volunteers. 

At check-in, participants described the issues with their items and had them weighed to track how much waste was diverted from the trash. They were then paired with volunteer fixers and menders to work together on diagnosing problems and making repairs. Many participants got hands-on, learning how to disassemble and help fix their items.

A total of 76 items were brought in, and an impressive 80% were successfully repaired on site. The items ranged from textiles and toys to small appliances and lamps. Volunteers enjoyed sharing their skills, learning from one another, and empowering others in the community to embrace repair and reuse.

Click here if you would like to learn more about volunteering at a future clinic. 

Olmsted County plans to host more Fix-It Clinics in the future. Please visit their website for updates and upcoming dates!

This event was made possible by funding from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s Statewide Waste Reduction and Reuse grant, supporting our shared commitment to sustainability and waste reduction in the community.