Springfield Fix-It Fair Repairs 40+ Items for Families

When Springfield families brought their worn shoes and torn clothing to Midtown Carnegie Library, volunteer seamstresses and repair experts gave these items a second life.

The Fix-It Fair brought together skilled volunteers who repaired more than 40 items for families looking to stretch their budgets. Community Partnership of the Ozarks partnered with the Springfield-Greene County Library to host the free event.

Volunteer Lanette Blevins has been sewing for most of her life. She learned repair skills out of necessity when her children were young and hard on their clothes.

"I couldn't afford to go out and buy new stuff every time something tore or wore out in a spot," Blevins said. Now she shares those skills with other families facing similar challenges.

Rae Corder brought her family to get shoes and clothing mended. She said investing in repairs makes more sense than constantly replacing items with cheap alternatives that wear out quickly.

"If you invest in maybe taking a shoe to a cobbler and if it's a good value shoe, then you can extend the life of your investment," Corder explained. She said this approach saves money and helps the environment at the same time.

The Ripple Effect

Both volunteers and families said the impact goes beyond individual budgets. Every repaired item means one less thing in a landfill and one more dollar saved for groceries or bills.

"I think environmentally is one of the concerns that we have is just trying to live light on the earth," Corder said. Her family views mending as good stewardship of both resources and the planet.

The repair movement builds community connections too. Skilled volunteers pass knowledge to the next generation while helping neighbors in need.

The library will host another Fix-It Fair in May, and organizers encourage anyone interested to start learning basic repair skills through classes or online videos.