Juliana Beecher hands a repaired clutch Thursday to Karen Diakou of Sabattus during the Maine GearShare free clothing repair fair at Goodwill Northern New England in Auburn. Volunteers and employees of Maine GearShare repaired items for free during the pop-up event. Diakou’s clutch was missing two pearls, so she brought in two pearls from a pair of earrings and Beecher was able to make the repair.
Daryn Slover/Sun Journal AUBURN — While Goodwill is known nationally as one of America’s favorite spots to shop secondhand, the Auburn Goodwill on Thursday had a new mission: repairing clothes, rather than selling them. A combined effort by Maine GearShare and Goodwill Northern New England, the free clothing repair fair gave Lewiston-Auburn residents the chance to have their damaged clothes fixed by Maine GearShare’s skilled staff and volunteers. Based in Brunswick, Maine GearShare is a gear lending library.
Not only does the company rent gear out, it also offers its own gear repair program. “People really love (it),” Maine GearShare Advancement Manager Emily Mackeown said. Although folks can drop off or mail their damaged gear at Maine GearShare’s physical location in Brunswick, part of the initiative also involves hosting repair fairs throughout the state.
James Fargnoli works on a repair Thursday during the Maine GearShare free clothing repair fair at Goodwill Northern New England in Auburn. Maine GearShare is a Brunswick-based nonprofit that specializes in renting .