Mend & Share Fair
Join us for Mend & Share Fair
Bring your broken, worn, and well-loved items to repair, donate gently-used goods, browse our free swap zones, and give new life to treasures while connecting with neighbors at Yaupon Place & Union Presbyterian Seminary. Explore hands-on workshops with basic repair skill demos, DIY maintenance tutorials, and sustainable living sessions. Stroll through community tables featuring local organizations, environmental groups, and sustainability resources, and grab a bite from our food truck(s)!
Please note: The information on this website is subject to change, and updated regularly
Get Involved
If you’re interested in volunteering or supporting, we’d love to have you! We’re looking for folks who have repair skills, can sort donations, assist with set up and take down, and friendly faces ready to share some hospitality with our neighbors. You can register to volunteer using this interest form. Volunteers get a food truck voucher!!
If you’d be interested in promoting this event, sponsoring, or partnering, let us know. We’d love to be in touch and spread the word together.
Volunteer RegistrationMend & Share Menu (with Recycling too!)
MENDING
- Bicycles needing tune-ups or repairs
- Clothing needing mending, hemming, or buttons
- Jewelry needing restringing, clasps, or cleaning
- Electronics (small appliances, phones, radios)
- Furniture or home items (wobbly chairs, broken ceramics, frames)
What to Bring to SHARE (donate or take):
- Furniture & home décor
- Kids’ items (clothing, toys)
- Adult clothing & shoes
- Kitchen & household goods
- Arts & crafts supplies
- Pet items
- Outdoor & garden items
- Working electronics
- Books, games, media
What to Bring to RECYCLE:
- Worn-out clothing and textiles
- Dried markers, art scraps
- Broken electronics, old cables
- Household batteries
- Ink/toner cartridges
- Old pet accessories
What to Bring to DONATE:
- Non-perishable food items at our food drive
FAQ
What should I bring?
Bring things to mend or donate, bring a bag or wagon for items to take home, a water bottle, and cash for food trucks and raffle tickets.
What you can bring for REPAIR:
- Items from our repair categories
- If something has broken apart, make sure to bring all the pieces
What you can bring to SHARE (donate)
- Gently-used items in good, working condition
- Clean clothing and household items
- Books, toys, kitchenware, etc.
- See our full list of accepted donation categories
What to bring for YOURSELF
- Reusable bags or containers for items you might take home (Please note we will have NO bags or boxes available)
- A water bottle
- Cash for food truck(s) and raffle tickets (Please note: Food truck(s) might accept credit cards, but raffle tickets are CASH ONLY)
- Comfortable walking shoes, folding chair or picnic blanket (limited seating), sunscreen, and a hat
- Patience, good vibes, and community spirit!
What we can fix
- Electronics (small appliances, radios, phones, etc.)
- Bicycles (tune-ups, tire repairs, brake adjustments)
- Textiles & Clothing (mending, hemming, darning, buttons)
- Jewelry (restringing, clasps, cleaning, watch batteries)
We can’t fix hazardous items, items that are broken beyond repair, and unsafe donations.
What NOT to bring
Items We CANNOT Repair:
- Hazardous materials or items requiring specialized disposal
- Large appliances (refrigerators, washing machines, ovens)
- Items broken beyond repair or unsafe to fix
- Anything requiring professional certification (gas appliances, major electrical work)
- Motorized lawn equipment or power tools
- Vehicles or vehicle parts
Items We CANNOT Accept as Donations:
- Dirty, stained, or damaged items
- Broken electronics that don’t work
- Expired food, medications, or cosmetics
- Mattresses, box springs, or large furniture
- Car seats, cribs, or baby items with safety recalls
- Opened personal care products
- Weapons, ammunition, or hazardous materials
- Building materials (paint, chemicals, lumber)
What We CANNOT Recycle:
- Hazardous waste (paint, chemicals, SOME batteries)
- Large appliances
- Construction materials
Can I bring my pet(s)?
We absolutely love our four-legged friends, but we ask that you leave pets at home for this event. With repair tools in use, lots of foot traffic, unfamiliar crowds, and activities happening across multiple zones, it can be overwhelming and potentially unsafe for pets.
Service animals are always welcome and we’re happy to accommodate any accessibility needs.
Thank you for understanding! 🐾
How does it work?
How Does It Work?
The Mend Zones:
- Bring your broken item to the appropriate repair station
- A skilled volunteer will assess whether it can be fixed on-site
- Some repairs happen while you wait; others may take longer
- If we can’t fix it, we’ll try to explain why and suggest alternatives
- All repairs are FREE!
The Share Zones:
- Drop off your donations at the appropriate category zone
- Browse what others have contributed
- Take home anything you can use – it’s all FREE!
- No need to donate in order to take items
- Everything left at the end goes to local nonprofits
The Fair:
- Attend workshops on repair skills and sustainable living
- Visit community organization tables
- Enjoy food trucks (purchase required)
- Tour Shalom Farms
- Connect with neighbors!
Is this event family friendly?
It sure is! Bring the whole family, kids are welcome. We even have a playground at Yaupon Place, a Kid’s Corner in the Share Zone, and arts and crafts activities
Family Amenities:
- Restrooms available on-site (Porta potties at Yaupon place; full bathrooms on the UPSem campus)
- Shaded areas and seating
- Food trucks with kid-friendly options
- Activities suitable for various ages
Supervision Note: Children under 12 should remain with a parent or guardian at all times, especially in repair zones where tools are in use.
Will there be food and refreshments available?
Yes! We’ll have food trucks on-site with delicious options for purchase:
Food Trucks:
- Brekkie Waffles (confirmed!) – offering gluten-free and vegan options
- Additional food trucks coming soon!
Are you a food truck owner interested in joining us? Email Katie Heishman at katie.heishman@upsem.edu
Snacks & Drinks: We’ll also have a concession area with:
- Canned beverages (sodas, sparkling water, etc.)
- Individually packaged snacks
Water: In keeping with our environmental values, we’re not selling plastic water bottles. Instead, we’ll have free water refill stations throughout the event – so bring your reusable water bottle!
We’ll also have a limited quantity of compostable cups available if needed.
What if it rains?
If it rains, we’ll move things indoors – But please pray with us for gorgeous weather!
Where do I park?
Working on it!
Is this an accessible event?
Yes! But we are still assembling more details on this.
When can I drop off/ pick up my items?
Items for repair can be checked in starting at 10:00am. You’ll wait with your item, or receive a ticket for later pickup (depends on capacity and wait times). We will stop accepting items for repair at 2:00pm.
Items to donate can be dropped off starting at 9:30pm, but we will stop taking donations at 12:30pm.
Can I drop off my item(s) for donation or repair before April 25th?
No <3
