Lexington's west end holds city's tool library

Oct 02, 2023

LEXINGTON, Ky. — It's one of the hidden gems at Lexington's WayPoint Center at Black & Williams Center helping people keep up with home fixes, outdoor projects and more. We’re talking about the Lexington Tool Library.

The Lexington Tool Library is helping residents tackle home improvement projects, even when they don't own tools

WayPoint is the community organization where the tool library can be accessed every Thursday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The tool library is looking for donations to help supplement its supply of tools and other items

Lexington native Tracie Walker is living in the city's west end and says the library has always been a place of familiar faces and love for the community.

But, it's not the lack of neighborly support that's keeping homes, community projects or improvements from being complete.

WayPoint Center Director Gerri Botts says a lack of access to tools is causing issues. WayPoint, which is part of the United Way of the Bluegrass, provides resources and opportunities to those with limited options to improve their livelihood. Community volunteers and partners saw a need and opened the doors to the Lexington Tool Library.

"We had people come in and get chainsaws and other kinds of things that I wouldn't even know how to operate, but then they come back and they’re so happy to have had things done even from cutting grass," said Botts.

People pay for what they choose at the library and not just for actual tools. Residents can also get household items such as cookware or equipment that could prevent renters and homeowners from receiving code enforcement or fines relating to fixes on their property.

Walker says being able to use the tools for up to a week makes a difference.

"I know we have relatives that know how to work on stuff but that's been able to make a small donation and take that right to home-improvements done," said Walker.

The tool library is filled with donations from the community.

"You know we’re still looking for other gardening items and we still definitely want some electric hand tools, whether it's a battery-powered stuff, drills and things like that."

Jess Estridge, a founding volunteer, says donations not only save homes and money, but they also prevent good tools from going to waste.

"Our relationship with ownership and consumption and stuff like that kind of leads to hundreds and thousands of these kinds of tools just sitting in a barn, and or collecting dust, and slowly falling apart," said Estridge.

They hope to provide something new to this neighborhood and beyond by eventually making the tool library mobile so it can move around to areas of the city that also need its services.