MONTOUR FALLS, N.Y. (WENY) -- In an effort to promote sustainability, the first Finger Lakes Repair Café took place at the Montour Falls Fire Department on Saturday.  Both new and old items could be taken in for a quick repair.

"Lots of people out there have items around their house that they're unable to fix and might normally just get thrown away, whether they're newer items or even, you know, old family heirlooms, you can bring them in here and hopefully have people help them, and get them fixed," said Matthew Glenn, a volunteer at the repair café.

Repairs were free, done by volunteer 'repair coaches' with different knowledge and specialties.  Donations were accepted, however.  Anything could be fixed, from bikes, to clothes and blankets, to toasters, and even decades old lamps.  One man brought in a decades old lamp to be fixed.

"It's 40 years old and I tried putting a switch on [the lamp] because it didn't have one, and I wasn't able to do a good job and it didn't work. So it sat in a closet for the last 40 years and my daughter texted me this morning and said hey, there's this repair clinic at [the fire department]. So I said, okay, I'll come down and, sure enough, a new wire," said Rick Shockner, an attendee.

Not only was it a chance to do some much needed repairs, but also to to pass along useful skills, and bond with people from the community.

"If it can be repaired so you can enjoy it again, it will not end up in the dump.  I'm sitting here thinking, not only is it wonderful that things are getting reused, its absolutely wonderful to see the sense of community," said Laura Mantius, one of the repair coaches.

There is another Finger Lakes Repair Café happening on June 1st from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Valois Logan Fire Department, 5736 State Route 414, Hector, N.Y.