Repair Café Silicon Valley

Repair Cafe

Toss it away?
No way!

Repair Café Silicon Valley is a volunteer-run, community service organization dedicated to encouraging the repair and reuse of goods rather than dumping them in landfill. Join us by bringing your broken items to be repaired or by volunteering.

What is Repair Café?

Repair Café is a free event all about repairing things (together). We have tools, materials, and volunteer experts to help you make any repairs you need on clothes, furniture, small appliances, bicycles, crockery, electronics, lamps, toys, and lots more. Our goal is to extend the life of everyday items and keep them out of the landfill.

Repair Café Silicon Valley started over ten years ago as separate organizations in Palo Alto and Mountain View and has grown to encompass all of Santa Clara Valley. Interested in hosting an event near you? Get in touch and we’ll help you get set up.

Did you know that Repair Café Palo Alto was the first one in the United States? Learn more about the history of the international Repair Café movement.

Man repairing toaster
Woman using a sewing machine

How do I get something fixed?

Bring it to a Repair Café! Our volunteers love a challenge so if you can carry it in we’ll do our best to get it back in service for you. We have electronics experts who love to solder, woodworkers who love to glue, sewing experts who love to stitch, and bike mechanics who love to grease things.

Sometimes we can fix it, sometimes we can identify the problem and send you home with a plan, and sometimes it may be time to recycle an item. But we’ll have a good time and know we are helping the environment by extending the life of the things we love.

How can I help?

Experienced tinkerer? Born organizer? Just want to learn? You can help, even if you’ve never used a screwdriver before you can make a difference.

Sign up and help us save the planet one repair at a time. We are always looking for people who can troubleshoot and repair, help organize events, or even work on this website. Want to learn how to repair? Come hang out and shadow a fixer at our next event.

Students: ask about our apprentice program! We’ll pair you up with an experienced fixer who will help you build your troubleshooting skills.

Man fixing a microwave oven

Partners

Museum sign

The Museum of American Heritage

MOAH has provided us with the perfect venue for hosting Repair Cafés in Palo Alto over the years.  We thank MOAH staff and board members for their help and support in growing this community event.

Zero Waste logo

Zero Waste Palo Alto

Zero Waste Palo Alto’s mission is to help the community reach its Zero Waste goal of virtually eliminating waste being burned or buried.  ZWPA supports the Repair Café through generous Waste Reduction Project Fund grants and on-going community outreach.

Upcoming Events

  • Repair Café at the Sunnyvale Library

    Saturday, January 11th, 2025, 11 AM to 3 PM

    We’ll be at the Sunnyvale Library, 665 W Olive Ave., in early January so bring all those broken holiday decorations instead of throwing them away.

  • Repair Café at the Mountain View Senior Center

    Sunday, March 16th, 2025, 11 AM to 3 PM

    Repair Café is returning to the Mountain View Senior Center, 266 Escuela Ave
    Mountain View, CA 94040. Everyone is welcome to bring items to repair.

  • Repair Café at the Museum of American Heritage in Palo Alto

    Sunday, April 27th, 2025, 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM

    Join us as we return to the Museum of American Heritage in Palo Alto to fix your favorite things.

Join Our Email List

Be the first to know about upcoming Repair Café events throughout Silicon Valley.

* indicates required
List