Time to ditch the throwaway culture and get hands-on with fixing your busted belongings. The Hennepin County Fix-It Clinics are rolling back into town, offering folks a free shot at breathing new life into their broken bits and bobs—everything from wonky clocks not quite ticking right to electronics that's seen better days. Volunteers armed with repair skills are up for the task of helping you troubleshoot and mend your household items. And the best part? No appointments are necessary.

It's not just about the fix but the fix-up skills you'll pick up along the way, the camaraderie in messing with malfunctioning gizmos side-by-side with neighbors who perhaps have a knack for knitting the frayed edges of the community just as well as they do with worn-out garments. According to the bulletin from Hennepin County, this initiative is as much an educational experience as it is a practical service; it's about "teaching valuable troubleshooting and basic repair skills, building community connections, and reducing the number of repairable items that are thrown in the trash," according to the City of Brooklyn Park.

So if you're in the Champlin area, here's your chance. The clinic was in full swing on Saturday, March 9, from noon until the clocks struck 4:00 pm, giving locals ample time to tackle their pile of "I'll deal with it later" items. The Champlin Ice Forum on 12165 Ensign Avenue N played host to this community-centric event. If you missed this one, don't worry—you can stay tuned for more future dates or dig into details at www.hennepin.us/FixItClinic, as per the City of Brooklyn Park.