New tools and new name!
Manzanita Tool Share is now Essential Tools™.
After the soft launch of the Manzanita Tool Share 18 months ago with the support of a seed grant from the San Mateo County Sustainability Department, we're lifting up the heart of the inventory to rename our budding program:
Essential Tools™ is a collection of tools and equipment that can be used for individual and group projects in home repair, landscaping, arts and crafts, woodworking, the culinary arts and more.
Our tool share is based on a community membership model where individuals and voluntary civic organizations can join the lending library to access the collection and programming as a shared community resource. We acquire all of our inventory from relationships with local brick & mortar hardware stores like Hayward Lumber, Outdoor Supply Hardware and Hassett Ace Hardware. In addition, we are able to accept in-kind donations of non-gas-powered tools in good working order*.
In the wake of catastrophic wildfires in Los Angeles at the start of this year, Manzanita Works focused on acquiring a variety of essential tools for laypeople to use for wildfire prevention and 'home hardening' efforts. This portion of our collection has been recommended to us by land use experts and residents alike.
To amplify the existing home hardening initiatives both locally and as a California Department of Insurance Community Partner, Manzanita Works is now honored to be collaborating with the San Mateo County Department of Emergency Management. This effort will promote home hardening by utilizing community participation in our tool share program and our local vendor network.
With the change of season and increased borrowing by tool share members, program activity has picked up in recent weeks. We now have new members signing up from San Bruno to Santa Clara, from El Granada on Coastside to Belle Haven in Menlo Park along the Bay!
"I have been having a positive experience with the program. It's been a great way to obtain tools that I may not need to own but only use occasionally or just once." - a member from Belmont
Our pick-up/drop-off locations are regularly scheduled for Redwood City and Los Altos Hills on a weekly basis. However, if residents are interested in utilizing and growing this community resource, Manzanita Works would be happy to add pop-up locations as our capacity allows.
There are some new tools in the Essential Tools™ inventory to check out like this pneumatic nail gun kit for installing wood flooring that is pictured below. Learn more about the program on our website to join.
*In-kind donations are conditional on Manzanita Works' approval.