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The Fix-It Man Who Mended More Than Broken Things - Henlus - 07-25-2025
At 79, George hung a sign: "Broken things fixed here. Payment: tea and talk."
Neighbors scoffed. But George remembered his late wife Ruth's creed: *"Waste is a habit. Kindness is the cure."*
First came Mia, 8, with a broken toy truck. George gave it bottle-cap wheels. Then her mom needed a résumé. Soon, retirees taught skills in his buzzing garage.
Officials tried to shut it down. The town protested. They won an old firehouse - now "Ruth's Hub," where:
- Plumbers teach plumbing
- Kids learn to darn socks
- A baker trades muffins for repairs
Years later, Mia - now a robotics intern - wrote: "You taught me broken things have value. I'm building solar prosthetics."
Today, twelve towns run Fix-It Hubs. All serve tea. None take money.
One man's toolbox rebuilt a community.
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