We’re excited to launch the BVNA Spotlight series, where we celebrate the people, programs, projects, and little things that make Buena Vista feel like home. Our first spotlight features the Haight-NoPa Repair Café, founded by neighbors Courtney and Claire. This neighbor-led effort brings people together to fix things, share skills, and build real connections.
Their next two events are February 28 (2:00–4:30pm) and April 19 (1:30–4:00pm) in the Community Room at the Park Branch Library, 1833 Page St. Bring your items, volunteer, or stop by to learn more!
Below, Courtney and Claire share more about their work in their own words.
“The Haight-Nopa Repair Café is a local volunteer driven initiative to help reduce waste, save resources and money, and bring joy to the local community. Patrons bring their broken or worn item (electronics, appliances, clothes, toys, jewelry, etc.) to the Repair Café event and volunteers try to repair it and/or give advice on what can be done. Neighbor-made sweet treats are available to help pass the time if there is a wait. We aim to have a minimum of four events a year.”
“Claire has been working on sustainability issues in the built environment for over 20 years, and was inspired to set up the Repair Café because of her friend Charlotte’s successful Chiswick Repair Café in London. She found there were many similar repair cafés or fix-it clinics in the North, East and South Bay but not in San Francisco. She asked Courtney, her neighbor and the founder of People!Art!Music!, to support her as she thought it would resonate perfectly with the work she does uplifting local creatives, small businesses and inspiring community connection.”
"The Haight-Nopa Repair Café is a local volunteer driven initiative to help reduce waste, save resources and money, and bring joy to the local community"
““We have held two repair cafés so far, repaired about 80 items and made a lot of people happy. Our amazing volunteers have repaired things such as favorite sweaters and pants, backpacks, a food mixer and a kettle, necklaces, lamps, a 1970’s record player, and a 100-year-old rosary. But perhaps even more important is the fun and sense of community that the repairers, helpers and patrons get from the event.”
“Best of all is to dig out your broken items and bring them along to be repaired instead of throwing them away or leaving them to idle in a drawer! Tell your neighbors about the Haight-NoPa Repair Café!
You could also sign up to volunteer either as a repairer, a day of logistics helper or a baker. Repairer volunteers recruited to date bring skills in electronics, appliances, soldering, woodwork, sewing, darning and gluing. Other volunteers help manage intake of patrons and their items, matching broken items to a suitable repairer, and checking out the patron with a celebration ‘Repaired!’ ring of a bell. Volunteers also bring baked goods such as cakes and cookies to be enjoyed while patrons wait for their turn for a repairer.”
"Our amazing volunteers have repaired sweaters, pants, backpacks, a food mixer, a kettle, necklaces, lamps, a 1970’s record player, and a 100-year-old rosary"
“Courtney and Claire have been neighbors on the same floor within their building for 10 years. They share a love of coffee, community and cocktails. Even inventing a post-Repair Café cocktail of their own, Le Réparer (The Repairer). A nod to the Repair Café and a much needed drink/repair after a big day!”
“We want to help people move away from the throw-away culture, and to value the items they have."
The parks!
“We want to help people move away from the throw-away culture, and to value the items they have. Given the rise of AI and digital technology, it seems even more important to use your hands, and share repair skills, in person, with your neighbors!”