The backstory
In April 2022, the city of Coppell held the first Neighbors Helping Neighbors event where volunteers were connected with residents in Coppell who needed help with home maintenance projects and repairs.
“We bought all these tools for our volunteers to use and we didn't want those tools to just be hanging out every year waiting for this event to happen,” Katie Blust, Coppell community services manager said. “We wanted them to get used throughout the year. We said, ‘Why don’t we start a tool-lending program?’”
The city bought a trailer, organized the tools in the trailer and launched the Tool Lending Trailer in 2023.
What’s on the truck
The following is a list of items on the trailer that can be lent out, at no cost, to Coppell residents:
- Battery-powered lawn mower
- Manual push lawn mower
- Bow rake
- Round shovel
- Leaf rake
- Loppers
- Shears
- Broom
- Safety equipment such as hard hats and safety glasses
- Metal detector
- Pole saw
- Post hole diggers
- Electric pressure washer
- Lithium-ion drill/driver and impact driver combo kit
- Ladder
- Wheelbarrow
Coppell residents, who are age 18 and older, can check out items for a week at a time. Blust said there is flexibility with the lending period and if the project isn’t finished, and the tool isn’t booked for the following week, the resident can prolong the return.
Coppell residents have the option to pick up the tools or for larger items, like lawnmowers and wheelbarrows, the item can be brought to the resident upon request.
Also of note
While individual tools can be lent to individuals, the entire Tool Lending Trailer can be lent to organizations such as churches, Scout troops and nonprofits. There are multiples of some of the tools on the trailer, which is beneficial when a group checks out the trailer.
Training is not provided for any of the tools. However, an operating manual and link to a how-to video is included in the lending procedure.
“We’re trying to fill a need in the community,” Blust said. “If a resident is caught in a moment and they need this tool to get a project done, they can look to the city to fill that need.”
What else?
In addition to the Tool Lending Trailer, the city also has a block party trailer they call “Block and Roll,” which is another free service available to Coppell residents.
“They can check out the trailer if they’re having a block party,” Blust said. “It comes with yard games, tables, chairs and coolers. It has to be a neighborhood group [gathering]. We don't want it being used for a birthday party. The purpose of it is to promote neighborhood engagement.”
