Phase 1: Creating a Place for More Things

» $30,000 needed «
UPDATE! Multnomah County approved our proposal for
Rockwood Repair & Reuse Center at 18600 SE Stark St!
This secures 2,600 sq ft in Rockwood Town Center
for community benefit, for up to 20 years!

Together with our community of builders, makers, and doers, we will be revitalizing a dormant building in the heart of Rockwood Town Center. In exchange for a rent-free lease, we will be investing in property improvements like exterior repair and roof maintenance. All of these items need to be completed before we can move in!

Immediate Impacts of Your Investment

Expanded Hours & Volunteer Opportunities

Moving operations indoors will enable us to lend tools more often and engage more volunteers, with weeknight hours planned by summer 2026. Tool donations will be accepted and repair space will be available during ALL lending hours.

Why it Matters?

Members have difficulty borrowing and returning tools during our limited Saturday hours. Volunteers are working outside in all weather: rain, heat, and cold!

More Categories of Things

This 2,600 sq ft building will establish the largest lending library in Multnomah county—housing tools, kitchen items, outdoor gear, and event supplies.

Why It Matters?

Accepting and lending more items saves everyone money and reduces landfill waste! We will ALWAYS lend tools, but community has asked to borrow & donate kitchen items and event items like folding chairs. We thing that's a great idea! Event supplies also reduce the cost of events and programs led by Rockwood Common AND community partners.

Local Repair Hub

Onsite repair programs and workshops will teach skills for all ages. A dedicated repair area will help us maintain our tools, with limited access for community fixers.

Why It Matters?

Workshops used to be part of the home, but small apartments cannot accommodate fixing things. A shared space to tinker and repair items empowers everyone (even teens) to waste less, save more, and develop core competencies in life.

Youth Skill Development

The Rockwood Repair & Reuse Center will also support our Youth Repair Internship program, developed with established youth workforce partners. Interns support lending operations, learn management and workforce skills, and guide the development of a student-run repair economy.

Phase 2: Room for Friends

» $80,500 needed «Interior classroom, office, and community spaces will require extensive clean-up, reconstruction, and renewal. Upgrades will make this space a usable Response Center in all weather conditions, including ice, heat, and smoke.

Work will be performed as funds become available, through donations, grants, and sponsorships.

Immediate Impacts of Your Investment

Frequent Repair Cafes & Skill Sharing Workshops

Classroom space with storage and comfortability improvements will enable us (and partners) to host free and low-cost classes to build skills, share information, and grow neighborhood resilience.

Why It Matters?

Imagine neighbors exchanging skills and problem solving over a cup of coffee and a piece of cake. That's real community: resilient, connected, and ready for anything.

Youth STEM Activities

Our Scavenger Club empowers elementary students to take apart toasters, DVD players, and small electronics to learn how they work.

Why It Matters?

Hands-on learning builds core competencies in STEM, and empowers children to explore the built environment. Indoor learning and exploration activities like our Scavenger Club build lifelong skills and friendships on the neighborhood.

Community Action Meetings

Join your neighbors to plan public events, improve air quality, organize clean-ups or advocate with government representatives.

Neighborhood Listening

Government and community leaders need to hear from Rockwood residents. This classroom space will facilitate private and public meeting space for Associations and community groups to organize and make an impact!

Emergency Response Classes

Building resilience skills during blue skies helps keep neighbors safe when wildfires, earthquakes, or storms roll in. Trained professionals from local and state departments are ready to teach preparedness in our community right now.

Phase 3: A Pathway to Free Electricity!

» $78,500 needed «

Within 5 years, we will be replacing the roof to prepare for solar installation.* This phase cannot be started until fully-funded.

Repairing Rockwood: Phase 1

an all-ages community repair and share center

Team Members